Ken Paxton crushed incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas GOP primary, winning by roughly 30 points. The landslide turned the Lone Star State into a competitive Senate battleground and forced Senate Republicans to abandon months of public criticism of Paxton’s conduct and legal woes. Party leaders quickly shifted tone, seeking to present a united front ahead of the crucial national November contest.

Majority leader John Thune told conservative host Hugh Hewitt that Paxton is “all in,” already fundraising and ready for the fall campaign. Senate Republican Committee chair Tim Scott posted his support, linking Paxton to President Trump and the GOP’s Senate majority. The NRSC publicly recently erased its prior attack ads and statements, removing pages that labeled Paxton incompetent and corrupt.

The rapid reversal aims to reassure donors worried that Paxton’s felony securities‑fraud indictment, impeachment history and a high‑profile divorce could jeopardize the seat. With Texas delivering Trump a 14‑point margin in 2024, Republicans calculate that a unified message outweighs character concerns. The party now channels significantly resources into defeating Democrat James Talarico rather than debating Paxton’s fitness.