WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- George W. Bush appeared at a Republican fundraiser that did not list Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton among its participants.
- Paxton defeated John Cornyn in this year’s primary after previously defeating George P. Bush in the 2022 attorney general primary.
- MAGA Inc. has more than $415 million in cash on hand as Republicans defend a narrow 53 to 47 Senate majority.
- RNC Chair Joe Gruters predicted Paxton will defeat Democratic nominee James Talarico and keep the Texas seat Republican.
Former President George W. Bush is helping raise money for Republicans, but one prominent Texas Senate nominee is conspicuously outside that effort, as reported by Fox News.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton previously defeated Bush’s nephew, George P. Bush, in the 2022 Republican primary for Texas attorney general.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn held a Monday night fundraiser for Maintain the Majority, with the former president appearing as a “special guest,” according to The New York Times.
Gold. Upgraded. Buy real gold from $1. Store it in America. Sell it with one click.
Paxton, who defeated Cornyn in this year’s Republican primary, was not listed among the event’s participants.
Maintain the Majority lists Cornyn and Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Jon Husted of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine as joint fund participants. Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers, New Hampshire Senate nominee John E. Sununu and Iowa Senate nominee Ashley Hinson are also listed.
Minnesota Republican Senate nominee Michele Tafoya was a late addition to Monday night’s event, according to the Times.
The fundraising roster brought together several Republican candidates as the party fights to protect its narrow Senate majority.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
Paxton was notably absent from that list, along with Republican North Carolina Senate nominees Mike Collins and Michael Whatley.
All three candidates are closely connected to President Donald Trump’s political orbit.
Bush and Cornyn have long had a complicated relationship with Trump and candidates favored by the president, including Paxton.
Karl Rove, a former senior presidential advisor to Bush, recently declared that he would vote for a Texas Democrat.
Cornyn also published an X post Monday morning outlining key election dates without mentioning Paxton.
“Early voting in Texas starts Monday, October 19, 2026 (28 days from today, September 21),” the post read.
“It runs through Friday, October 30. The 2026 midterms (Election Day) are Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — 43 days from today.”
Although the Maintain the Majority funds may not include Paxton, Trump’s midterm campaign operation offers another major source of support.
MAGA Inc., now under the watch of former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, has more than $415 million in cash on hand, according to the latest FEC filing reported Sunday.
Michigan, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine and Alaska are all rated tossups in the latest Fox News Power Rankings.
Republicans are trying to preserve their slim 53 to 47 Senate majority amid Democratic efforts to gain ground.
Democrats are targeting races involving Collins, Husted, Sullivan, Hinson, Whatley and Paxton. Republicans, meanwhile, are looking at potential Senate pickups in Michigan, New Hampshire and Georgia.
Midterm elections have historically been unfavorable to the political party occupying the White House.
Holding the Senate could help Republicans restrain Democratic momentum during Trump’s final two years in office if the party loses its slim 218 to 214 House majority.
Cornyn’s establishment Republican fundraising network may not be available to the rival who defeated him in the primary.
Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters, however, has expressed confidence that Texas voters will keep the Senate seat in Republican hands.
“You got to remember Ken Paxton won this state a couple of times in the general; he won a primary against a strong incumbent that’s been there for a long time by a couple hundred thousand votes,” Gruters told Fox News Digital last month.
“People want this race to be the biggest race in the country, but it really won’t be because at the end of the day, Paxton has proven time and time again that he’s a winner; he’s a winner in this state. Texas is ruby red,” Gruters said.
“Texas is a hardcore Republican state. They’re going to send up a MAGA warrior because we have a lot of work to do, including passing the Save America Act.”
Gruters also predicted that Paxton’s statewide campaign strength would hold against Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico despite resources coming from California.
“Texas is a massive state; a lot of resources from California are pouring in because these California liberals like Talafreako, but I don’t think it’s going to help him at the end of the day,” Gruters added.
“Paxton is going to win this race.”
Gold is the oldest answer. SoundMoney makes owning it as easy as the apps you already use.
Read the full article here
