Trump’s Grip on Texas Amid Turning Point’s Endorsement in the Texas Senate Race
Ken Paxton speaking at a university chapter of Turning Point USA. Source: North Texas Daily.
Turning Point USA, the political arm of the organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk, has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the vacant seat in Texas for the United States Senate. Turning Point’s endorsement follows its’ AmericaFest conference last December, with Nicki Minaj making a guest appearance, as well as the organization’s Super Bowl halftime show featuring Kid Rock. While accepting the endorsement, Paxton posted on X. He said, “The movement that Charlie Kirk built has inspired millions, and I’m proud to… save this country and defend our freedoms.” Aside from Attorney General Paxton, the GOP candidates for the seat are long-time incumbent Senator John Cornyn and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt. Though the race for the Republican nomination has been heated, the Democratic nomination is also seeing a similar competition with U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett running against Texas Representative James Talarico.
Paxton has served as the Attorney General for Texas since 2015, and, since then, has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. In his Senate campaign, Paxton has labeled himself as a champion of “America First” policies and has promised to reduce the establishment power of RINOs (Republicans in Name Only). Furthermore, if elected to the Senate, one of his campaign promises has been to advance President Trump’s legislative agenda. Contrasting Paxton’s absolute dedication to Trump’s plan, Sen. Cornyn remains somewhat critical of the President’s policies and actions leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election. Despite his criticisms, he has backtracked over the last year, attempting to align his ideas closer with those of President Trump. Responding to Paxton’s comments, Cornyn said, he “votes with President Trump 99% of the time.” In a recent interview with CNN, Cornyn relayed his concerns that if the “wrong Republican” is given the nomination, there is a chance Texas’ Senate seat will be flipped blue, which could be a reason why Turning Point endorsed Paxton, a strong advocate of Trump, as opposed to Cornyn, who occasionally voices criticism.
Following the publication of Turning Point’s endorsement, Republican officials voiced their opinions on the internet, with many pointing to actions in Paxton’s personal life. For instance, Jonah Wendt, the Communications Director for former Vice President Mike Pence, stated online, regarding Kirk’s teachings, “Charlie Kirk: ‘Get married. Have children. Build a legacy.' Ken Paxton: 'Cheat on your wife. Get divorced. Run for higher office.’”
Furthermore, a former Republican Representative for Virginia called out Turning Point by stating, “Don’t let them tell you they care about character with their endorsement of this charlatan...” Before the endorsement, a poll released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) showed that if Paxton is nominated, he will lose to Talarico by three points, unlike Cornyn, who would be forecasted to win by three points. However, if Crockett becomes the Democratic nominee, Cornyn and Paxton are predicted to win by seven and one points, respectively.
Though Turning Point has substantial influence among Republicans nationwide, behind the scenes, donors have grown frustrated by the lack of endorsement from one key figure: the President. According to an article released by Politico on February 11, though most donors have not released public statements, many are irritated at President Trump’s refusal to endorse one candidate. Donors worry the three-way primary, taking place in a formerly solid Republican seat, will become “unnecessarily competitive,” especially if a runoff election takes place. When asked to explain his lack of comment on the situation, Trump stated that he is unable to decide because of his friendly relationships with each of the candidates. Earlier this month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt simply stated that the President is paying close attention to the primaries, and that she “wouldn’t get ahead of the president” regarding endorsements.
Ultimately, the Senate primary in Texas is proving to be more than a heated competition between three candidates, but it exemplifies the Republican Party’s current struggle with direction. With Turning Point’s endorsement of Attorney General Paxton reminiscent of grassroots loyalty to President Trump and the anxiety of major donors to hear what the President himself has to say, the race underscores an ongoing struggle between established conservatism and the growing “America First” movement. As the primaries rapidly approach, the outcome will not only determine who will compete to represent Texas in the Senate but also reveal how Trump’s influence will determine the future of the GOP.