Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is calling on his party to close ranks behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who ousted incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R) in Tuesday's primary. In a radio interview Wednesday with Hugh Hewitt, Thune argued that maintaining the Republican Senate majority depends on winning Texas in the general election.
Thune acknowledged that Cornyn had been a strong ally in the Senate but said the primary results demand a new strategy. “John Cornyn, I believe, had been a great partner for us in the Senate, and had done a great job for Texas and for our country,” Thune said. “But you know, the voters, Republican voters in Texas spoke last night. Ken Paxton is our nominee heading into November, and we’ve got to pivot and go all-in to make sure that we keep Texas red.”
Thune had backed Cornyn through the primary, even after President Trump endorsed Paxton earlier this month. Trump’s endorsement angered several Senate Republicans, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who said she was “supremely disappointed.” Murkowski told reporters, “I don’t understand it,” when asked about Trump’s decision.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which had spent months attacking Paxton in support of Cornyn, has since scrubbed many of those posts from its website. NRSC Chairman Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has not publicly commented on the shift, but Thune indicated he and Scott have already spoken with Paxton. “I have spoken with him. Spoke with John Cornyn as well. And yes, obviously, we are making the pivot,” Thune said.
Paxton now faces Democratic state Representative James Talarico, whom Thune described as a “far left liberal” who must be defeated. Talarico has claimed that some Trump supporters are quietly defecting in the race, a narrative that could complicate GOP efforts to hold the seat. Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in decades, but the margin in the primary suggests a potential vulnerability.
Thune framed the Texas race as existential for the GOP’s Senate majority. “But we’ve got to do everything we can, Hugh, you know, as a party to make sure that we win this race, because losing is not an option when it comes to the state of Texas and what it means for our majority in the Senate,” he said.
The primary outcome has also stirred broader questions about Trump’s influence within the party. Trump hailed Paxton’s win as a bellwether for the midterms, even as the Iran deal remains stalled and his cabinet meets amid gridlock. The Heritage Foundation’s recent board reshuffle, which added nationalist leaders, signals a deeper ideological shift that could affect Senate races.
For now, Thune is focused on unity. The GOP’s political arm is expected to quickly pivot to supporting Paxton, though some donors remain wary of his legal troubles and weaker general election appeal compared to Cornyn. The race is already drawing national attention, with both parties viewing it as a key test of Trump’s coattails and the GOP’s ability to hold its majority.
