Trump’s influence helped drive a pattern of Republican takedowns of lawmakers viewed as insufficiently loyal. Cornyn lost by 28 points, the widest primary defeat for a sitting U.S. senator since 1978, and the loss adds to Trump’s broader efforts to reshape the party. Republicans face a money problem in Texas, needing to spend tens of millions more to compete in the Senate race than they would have if Cornyn had remained the nominee. Top Republicans say Trump owns Paxton’s win, shifting the burden to Trump’s political operation to fund the GOP effort. The defeat also worsens Trump’s existing numbers problems in the Senate and could increase resistance to controversial priorities.
"For Trump, it was the latest in a string of takedowns of Republicans he'd deemed not loyal enough. They include state lawmakers from Indiana who resisted his redistricting push and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who in 2021 voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges. And now Cornyn, who almost always votes with Trump but was viewed as not aggressive enough in pushing his agenda."
"Cornyn's 28-point loss is the widest primary defeat for a sitting U.S. senator since 1978, according to Bolts' Daniel Nichanian, and that time, the Montana senator had just been appointed to the seat months before. Key takeaways from Tuesday's primary: 1. Republicans have a money problem to iron out. The GOP now feels the need to pour tens of millions of dollars more into Texas' Senate race than if it were Cornyn opposing upstart Democrat James Talarico."
"Senate Majority Leader John Thune's political operation and the National Republican Senatorial Committee both helped Cornyn in the primary. Their donors are unlikely to be excited about turning around and funding Paxton's race against Talarico. (The NRSC's statement on the primary late Tuesday didn't mention Paxton.) That's a problem, since Talarico is a strong fundraiser and Paxton isn't."
"Top Republicans say Trump owns Paxton's win and that the burden now falls on the president's well-funded political machine to finance the GOP side of the Texas race. 2. Republicans have a YOLO problem (You Only Live Once). Trump already has a numbers problem in the Senate, where he's been facing pushback on his $1 billion ballroom project and his $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund." Cornyn's defeat could further complicate things."
#trump-backed-republican-primaries #texas-senate-race #gop-fundraising-and-spending #senate-strategy-and-loyalty #political-influence-and-party-discipline
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