Paxton dominates Cornyn in Texas US Senate runoff, the latest sign of Trump's hold on GOP

[Polybius]

Source: Associated Press

PLANO, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, easily defeating four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the latest contest where President Donald Trump sought to oust an incumbent he saw as insufficiently loyal.

Trump endorsed Paxton last week, calling him a “true MAGA warrior.” Paxton’s victory in Tuesday’s runoff makes Cornyn — who was first elected to the Senate in 2002 — the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party’s nomination for reelection.

Cheers rang through the ballroom at Paxton’s election night party when the race was called, and he took the stage to supporters chanting his name. He quickly gave credit to Trump.

“When everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and abandon the people of Texas, he didn’t listen,” Paxton said. “President Trump is the leader of our party, and his endorsement is the most powerful force in politics.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-cornyn-paxton-trump-talarico-4fa609e7ddb93b47ac4e3398a12a472e

[kentuck]

1. Will the 30 odd percent that voted for Cornyn come home to the Party in November?

What do you think?

This is not an automatic pickup for the Dems.

[Vogon_Glory]

2. Alas, a lot of Cornyn supporters will hold their noses and vote for Paxton

I also like to think that there are some Texas Republicans who are thoughtful, who would vote for country over party, and who still support common decency. However, I’ve learned to believe that their numbers are limited. They’re not a majority, they’re not a plurality, and they’re not even a respectable-sized minority.

Now whether there are enough of those sorts of Republicans left to either vote for Talarico or just stay home when it’s time to vote in the general election remains to be seen. However, if there are enough of those left, that betters Talarico’s chances of getting elected.

[OnDoutside]

3. Looking at 2020, it wasn't a massive victory against MJ Hagar

Nominee John Cornyn M. J. Hegar
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 5,962,983 4,888,764
Percentage 53.51% 43.87%

[70sEraVet]

4. I do hope there are a couple of debates between the candidates

They will be fun to watch.