‘He wants me to lose’: Paxton complains about lack of support from Cornyn in leaked audio

Key Points:

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton privately expressed frustration that Senator John Cornyn is not supporting his Senate campaign and allegedly wants him to lose, despite publicly stating he would appreciate Cornyn’s backing.
• Paxton recounted an incident in which Cornyn reportedly reacted angrily when thanked for supporting Paxton, claiming Cornyn wants to "teach Republicans a lesson" by letting Paxton lose; Cornyn’s team denies this account.
• The longstanding tension between Paxton and Cornyn, rooted in past political conflicts and criticisms, continues to impact the Republican Senate race in Texas, with Cornyn withholding active support despite endorsing the GOP ticket.
• Paxton faces challenges within the Republican base, including lukewarm support from some Cornyn backers and concerns about voter turnout, even as national Republicans invest heavily to secure his victory against Democrat James Talarico.
• Despite internal party divisions and leaked recordings revealing campaign struggles, former President Trump remains a strong supporter of Paxton, underscoring the deep divisions within the Texas GOP ahead of the general election.