The Texas Republican Senate primary is heating up, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address. Among the attendees is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who plans to join the event as a guest of Representative Troy Neals. Inside the venue, he’ll find himself sitting across from his rival, Senator John Cornyn, and other Senate leaders who have historically backed established figures in contentious primary battles.
In a chat from Neals’ office, Paxton emphasized that the night would primarily focus on Trump highlighting his achievements rather than his ongoing campaign for the Senate seat in Texas.
“If I see those guys, I’ll be friendly. I’m not here to settle any scores,” Paxton remarked, adding that he believes Cornyn’s 24 years in office haven’t lived up to what Texans deserve. “It’s a campaign, not just a State of the Union.”
Early voting is already underway in Texas. Paxton is aiming to unseat Cornyn, who is chasing a fifth term. There’s also Representative Wesley Hunt in the mix, though he won’t be present at the State of the Union.
While Paxton made it clear that the focus wasn’t on his race, it’s tough to ignore the competitive atmosphere surrounding it. Both he and Cornyn are looking to win Trump’s favor.
Neals explained his decision to invite Paxton by stating, “Because he’s going to be the next senator from the great state of Texas.” He challenged Cornyn’s long tenure, suggesting that if he hasn’t achieved his goals in 24 years, he probably won’t in 30.
On the other side, Cornyn’s top campaign advisor expressed excitement about hosting the president of the Border Patrol union at the event.
As the night approaches, both Nehls and Paxton anticipate Trump’s lengthy speech while eagerly considering the impacts of his immigration policies, which they argue have greatly impacted their states.
Nehls asserted, “Donald Trump shut it down right away. Our border is the most secure it’s ever been, and that’s because of his leadership.”
