Republicans quickly rallied around Republican Ken Paxton after his victory over Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP Senate runoff, while Democrats viewed the result as an opening in a statewide race they have not won in decades.
Within minutes of Paxton’s commanding win Tuesday night, Republicans lined up behind him.
Sen. Ted Cruz, who had not made an endorsement in the Senate race, called Paxton a “fearless conservative” and said he looks forward to “fighting alongside him.”
“Ken is a fearless conservative who spent years taking on Texas’s toughest battles as attorney general and has proven that he will always fight for and defend the Lone Star State,” Cruz said in a statement.
He added: “It’s time to unite to make sure that Texas stays Texas.”
Gov. Greg Abbott congratulated Paxton “on the resounding victory” and called on Texans to unite behind the Republican ticket.
“A united Republican Party will drive victory,” Abbott said in a statement issued after the runoff elections. “Together, we will crush socialist Democrats’ dream of turning Texas blue.”
Abbott, who made no endorsement and had declined to say who he voted for in the Senate race, predicted that Paxton would “destroy” Democrat James Talarico in November.
Even Republicans who had criticized Paxton during the primary quickly moved to support him after the runoff.
State Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano, a Cornyn supporter, said Republicans “must quickly heal and unite from these bruising primaries.”
“The Texas we know and love is worth it,” Leach posted on X.
Cornyn also signaled support for the party after his loss, saying he would “support the Republican ticket,” though he stopped short of explicitly endorsing Paxton.
Democrats also welcomed Paxton’s win, saying his legal troubles and ethics controversies make him a weaker candidate in the general election against Senate nominee James Talarico. an Austin state representative.
“Ken Paxton has spent decades in office abusing his power to serve special interests and enrich himself at Texans’ expense – and in November, we’re going to put a stop to his corruption,” state Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder said in a statement.
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat running against Abbott, called the GOP slate the “most corrupt ticket in Texas history.”