Texas Republicans wrestle with Ken Paxton's 'moral character'

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump gave backhanded praise to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at the GOP midterm convention, acknowledging Paxton's personal flaws but calling him the "greatest attorney general in America" and a deserving Senate candidate.
• Paxton faces significant voter skepticism due to past bribery allegations, impeachment, and personal scandals, with polls showing him unfavorably viewed by 55% of likely voters and struggling to gain suburban support.
• Despite internal GOP opposition, including from Senator John Cornyn who refused to endorse Paxton, the Texas Republican base strongly supports him, though moderate Republicans and independents remain wary.
• Democrat James Talarico is competitive in the Senate race, capitalizing on Paxton's vulnerabilities and appealing to suburban voters, making the traditionally Republican Texas Senate seat a toss-up in several forecasts.
• Paxton's campaign emphasizes conservative values and attacks Talarico as too liberal, but Trump's declining approval ratings and Paxton’s own admission that the GOP convention hurt his numbers add uncertainty to the race outcome.