'If Ken Paxton loses' Texas Senate, blame Cornyn, Karl Rove

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump blamed incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn and conservative commentator Karl Rove for potentially causing Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton to lose to Democrat James Talarico, accusing them of undermining his preferred candidate.
• Texas has emerged as a competitive battleground for the 2026 midterms, with polls showing Talarico leading Paxton by a small margin despite the state's long history of voting Republican in Senate races and presidential elections.
• Trump's endorsement of Paxton, who defeated four-term incumbent Cornyn in the GOP primary despite controversies and intra-party opposition, was seen as a risky move that weakened Cornyn's standing.
• Republican groups have heavily invested in the Texas Senate race, with GOP spending exceeding $370 million, outpacing Democratic spending by nearly $235 million, as both parties vie for control of the Senate.
• Trump has frequently criticized Karl Rove, labeling him a "loser" and urging media outlets to stop featuring him; meanwhile, Rove recently expressed willingness to support a Democratic candidate in another Texas race, marking a rare break from his usual Republican allegiance.