Politics & Government

He will ‘destroy’ Talarico for Senate: Republicans react to Paxton victory

GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3, 2026 in Dallas. Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn faced each other in a runoff.
GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3, 2026 in Dallas. Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn faced each other in a runoff. Getty Images

Attorney General Ken Paxton is projected to defeat incumbent John Cornyn for the Republican nomination for a seat in the United States Senate.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott quickly took to social media to congratulate Paxton, adding that he will “destroy” Democratic nominee James Talarico

President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in a Truth Social post on May 19, one week before Election Day. He has continued to support Paxton on social media since, making multiple posts in his support.

Just before 5 a.m. on Election Day, Trump urged Texas voters once again to vote for Paxton.

“Texas, Vote for Ken Paxton, our Country’s BEST Attorney General!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a statement against Talarico on election night.

“A state President Trump won by nearly 14 points isn’t going to elect James Talarico — a radical leftist who thinks God is nonbinary and that Texas should be a welcome mat for illegals. He is the most dangerous flank of the far left. Texas isn’t swapping brisket for open borders,” said NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell.

According to AdImpact, $128 million worth of ads had been bought during the Texas Republican primary race.

Senate Majority PAC spokesperson Lauren French released the following statement on the Republican senatorial runoff election results in Texas.

“Washington Republicans burned nearly $100 million trying to stop Ken Paxton — and still lost. Even members of his own party call Paxton too corrupt and too damaged for Texas. Now he’s the GOP standard-bearer. Good luck with that,” French said.

Maven Navarro
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Maven Navarro is a local news reporter at the Star-Telegram. She covers Fort Worth and Tarrant County. 
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