{"id":2607460,"date":"2026-05-27T14:55:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/talarico-and-paxton-court-the-cornyn-vote\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T14:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:57:09","slug":"talarico-and-paxton-court-the-cornyn-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/talarico-and-paxton-court-the-cornyn-vote\/","title":{"rendered":"Talarico and Paxton court the Cornyn vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftalarico-and-paxton-court-the-cornyn-vote%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2607460&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat James Talarico and Republican ken Paxton quickly moved to court John Cornyn\u2019s supporters after Cornyn was knocked out in a Texas Senate primary runoff by Trump-backed Paxton. Democrats see Cornyn backers as a critical audience to peel away, especially as party leaders (besides Trump) had publicly criticized Paxton and portrayed Talarico as a weaker-yet more <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >progressive-general-election threat<\/a> to Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>Paxton,the Texas attorney general,used his victory speech to reach out to Republicans who supported other candidates,while Trump also offered praise for Cornyn\u2019s \u201cgreat career\u201d and signaled continued outreach to Cornyn-aligned voters. Many prominent Republicans have already aligned with paxton, including Senate Whip John Barrasso and Sen. Bernie Moreno, while Cornyn pledged to support Paxton in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/impossible-gop-picked-up-seats-in-house-picked-up-state-legislatures-picked-up-governorship-held-the-senate-but-sniffy-joe-won-not-a-chance\/\" title=\"IMPOSSIBLE: GOP Picked Up Seats in House, Picked Up ... Legislatures, Picked Up Governorship, Held the Senate -- But Sniffy Joe Won?... NOT A CHANCE\">general election<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Other Republicans had been slower to endorse Paxton, and GOP campaign infrastructure reportedly removed or revised earlier anti-Paxton messaging as it prepares to finance him. Democrats argue that Talarico\u2019s establishment-friendly progressive record could make him more persuasive to centrist Cornyn supporters in a state Republicans won decisively and where Democrats haven\u2019t elected a senator in decades.<\/p>\n<p>In Talarico\u2019s pitch to Cornyn supporters, he framed Paxton as extremely corrupt and highlighted allegations and proceedings involving Paxton, while Paxton attacked Talarico as overly radical and tied him to Democrats nationally. Despite the effort to consolidate GOP support behind paxton,some nonpartisan forecasters say the race has shifted toward Democrats after Paxton\u2019s nomination,leaving Texas leaning Republican but close to competitive.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrat <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-talarico\/\">James Talarico<\/a> and Republican <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\">Ken Paxton<\/a> wasted no time appealing to Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\">John Cornyn\u2019s<\/a> (R-TX) supporters after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4582071\/texas-senate-runoff-result-cornyn-paxton\/\">longtime incumbent was ousted<\/a> in a Senate primary runoff against Trump-backed Paxton.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats see a moment ripe for the taking to win over Cornyn-backers after party leaders, save for Trump, openly trashed Paxton as a morally compromised candidate and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-endorsed-tudor-dixon-wins-gop-nomination-for-governor-of-michigan\/\" title=\"...-Endorsed Tudor Dixon ...s GOP Nomination for Governor of Michigan\">weaker general election opponent<\/a> against the progressive Talarico.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583808\/gop-torches-james-talarico-new-ad\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>GOP torches James Talarico in new ad<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583512\/rnc-boasts-primary-wins-despite-trump-low-approval\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>RNC boasts primary wins despite Trump\u2019s low approval ratings<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583506\/trump-al-green-primary-loss-sotu-antics\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says he\u2019ll miss Al Green\u2019s State of the Union antics after primary loss<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe don\u2019t agree on everything, but we both still believe in public service,\u201d Talarico posted Tuesday night, along with praise for Cornyn\u2019s nearly 25 years in the Senate. \u201cTo Senator Cornyn\u2019s supporters: you have a place in our campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton, the Texas attorney general, used part of his victory speech after a resounding 28-point win to woo Republicans whose support he lacked but who will be the target of tens of millions of dollars from Democrats to flip the Lone Star State in the November midterm elections. Talarico, a state representative, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4583186\/james-talarico-records-600000-haul-hours-after-ken-paxton-texas-primary-win\/\">hauled in $600,000<\/a> in just two hours following Paxton\u2019s win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo matter who you supported in this race, whether it was me, Senator Cornyn, or you voted for someone different in March, I want to thank every single Texan, and I want to let them know that I want to earn your support,\u201d Paxton said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even President Donald Trump, who condemned Cornyn as disloyal after endorsing Paxton in the days leading up to the runoff, made overtures to those who supported the four-term senator. Trump cheered Cornyn on Truth Social for \u201chaving run a strong and powerful race but, more importantly, having had a truly great career.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJohn will remain my friend for a long time to come, as we both watch Ken become a fantastic, common sense Senator, one who is respected by all,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some notable Republicans have already <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583010\/republicans-fall-in-line-ken-paxton-victory\/\">begun to fall in line<\/a> behind Paxton, including Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), the likely next chairman of the Senate GOP\u2019s campaign arm for the 2028 cycle. For his part, Cornyn made clear he\u2019ll remain a team player and get behind Paxton. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve spent most of my time in the Senate building the Republican Party in Texas and in the U.S. Senate, and I\u2019ve always supported the Republican ticket,\u201d Cornyn said in an emotional concession speech. \u201cI intend to do so again in this general election.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, other Republicans had yet to weigh in, including Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who for months pleaded with Trump to side with Cornyn. The party\u2019s campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, scrubbed old press releases and tweets critical of Paxton as it and other GOP entities prepare to put money behind a candidate they\u2019ve long publicly denounced.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From l-r: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and state Rep. James Talarico (D-TX). (AP Photos\/Tony Gutierrez\/Eric Gay\/Annie Rice)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat these results signaled to centrist [George W. Bush] Republicans is that you no longer have a place in the Texas Republican Party,\u201d Texas-based Democratic strategist Dallas Jones said in an interview. \u201cThey need somewhere to go, and I think it\u2019s an opportunity for James Talarico to say, \u2018I share your values of faith, family, and a brighter future for tomorrow.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A factor working in Paxton\u2019s favor for appealing to those who preferred the more establishment-aligned Cornyn is Talarico\u2019s progressive record, one that Republicans feel makes it easier to convince swing voters he\u2019s too radical for a red state Trump won by 14 points and hasn\u2019t elected a Democratic senator since before the 37-year-old Talarico was born.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s a vegan who thinks God is nonbinary and that there\u2019s actually six biological sexes,\u201d Paxton said in his speech. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to imagine someone more radical than that. No matter what he says or how much he raises, the reality is that James Talarico is going to be nothing more than a Texas-based puppet for Chuck Schumer and the National Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Previewing his counter message, Talarico called Paxton the \u201cmost corrupt politician in America\u201d as he spotlighted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-sues-amazon-over-alleged-worker-exploitation-amid-pandemic\/\" title=\"New York Sues Amazon Over Alleged Worker \u2018Exploitation\u2019 Amid Pandemic\">state attorney general\u2019<\/a>s 2023 impeachment trial on public corruption charges and past criminal indictments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4583010\/republicans-fall-in-line-ken-paxton-victory\/\">REPUBLICANS FALL IN LINE BEHIND KEN PAXTON AFTER RESOUNDING VICTORY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s time to come together: The People vs. Ken Paxton,\u201d Talarico said in a video statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in the latest warning sign for Paxton\u2019s viability, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-vow-not-to-abandon-tester-in-key-montana-senate-race-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... vow not to abandon Tester in key Montana Senate ... - Washington Examiner\">nonpartisan election forecasters shifted<\/a> the race toward Democrats after his nomination. The Texas Senate seat now \u201cleans Republican,\u201d just one column shy of \u201ctoss up.\u201d Or put by Larry Sabato\u2019s Crystal Ball from the University of Virginia\u2019s Center for Politics: \u201cTexas Republicans roll the dice with Paxton.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrat Talarico and GOP Paxton quickly court Cornyn voters after Cornyn\u2019s primary loss; Democrats see an opening<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2607462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-bc37aulzz-1779897398277-e1779906767371.jpg?1779883443&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[22362,32417,18466,68501,37104],"class_list":["post-2607460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-cornyn","tag-court-case","tag-paxton","tag-talarico","tag-texas-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-bc37aulzz-1779897398277-e1779906767371.jpg?1779883443&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2607460"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607467,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2607460\/revisions\/2607467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2607460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2607460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2607460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}