The short version
- Senator Thom Tillis labeled Donald Trump's support for Ken Paxton as a colossal mistake that endangers Republican control of the Senate.
- Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the primary and now faces Democrat James Talarico in the November general election.
- Tillis suggests the endorsement has unnecessarily inflated campaign spending while exposing the party to a candidate with significant legal and personal controversies.
A prominent Republican senator has issued a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump’s intervention in the Texas Senate primary, characterizing the decision as a severe strategic blunder that threatens to cost the party a crucial seat. Thom Tillis, who is retiring from office, stated during a recent television interview that the president’s endorsement of Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn was an unforced error with significant downstream consequences for the GOP’s electoral prospects.
Tillis argued that the contest would have been far less resource-intensive had Cornyn secured the nomination. He noted that Republicans are now forced to expend tens or potentially hundreds of millions of dollars defending a seat that might otherwise have remained secure. The senator emphasized that Cornyn was a reliable and effective member of the Senate, whereas Paxton brings substantial liabilities to the ticket.
The primary contest concluded in May with Paxton defeating Cornyn, a four-term senator who had previously suggested that Republicans should move beyond Trump’s influence. In response to Cornyn’s comments during the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump labeled him disloyal and urged voters to remember this stance. The president highlighted Paxton’s alignment with the Make America Great Again movement as the primary justification for his endorsement.
Paxton faces a challenging path to victory in the general election against James Talarico, a Democratic pastor and state legislator. Talarico has built a campaign around messages of peace and populism, attracting considerable attention from voters. A win for Talarico would mark a historic shift, making him the first Democrat to hold statewide office in Texas in more than three decades.
The attorney general’s candidacy is complicated by a history of legal and personal controversies. Paxton was impeached in 2023 following accusations of corruption, though he was later acquitted during a trial in the Texas Senate. Additionally, he faced felony securities fraud charges that were dismissed after a pretrial diversion agreement was reached in 2024.
Personal issues have also surfaced recently to complicate Paxton’s public image. His wife of thirty-eight years, Angela Paxton, filed for divorce in July 2025 on biblical grounds, citing adultery as the reason for the separation. These developments add layers of scrutiny to his campaign at a time when national attention is focused on the midterm federal elections.
Tillis has established himself as one of the few Republicans willing to publicly criticize Trump’s decisions. In April, he defended the Nato military alliance after the president suggested considering a withdrawal from the organization. Tillis argued that such a move would undermine American national security interests and fulfill the geopolitical objectives of Russian and Chinese leaders.
The senator has also taken strong stances on domestic policy issues. He called for the resignation of then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem after immigration agents killed two US citizens in Minneapolis, describing her leadership as a disaster during a Senate hearing prior to her dismissal. Tillis was among a small group of Republicans who voted for a Democrat-led war powers resolution aimed at ending the conflict with Iran, although the measure ultimately failed by a single vote.
The upcoming November election will serve as a critical test of Trump’s influence within his own party and the broader electorate in Texas. The outcome could signal whether voters prioritize loyalty to the president or prefer candidates with established legislative records and fewer legal entanglements. As the campaign intensifies, the financial and political costs of this primary decision will likely remain a central topic of debate among Republican strategists.
With only weeks remaining before the general election, both campaigns are ramping up efforts to mobilize their bases. The race has drawn national attention due to its implications for Senate control and the future direction of the Republican Party. Observers will be watching closely to see how Paxton addresses his past controversies while attempting to counter Talarico’s populist appeal.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Republican says Trump’s support of Ken Paxton in Texas primary was ‘colossal mistake’
