Paxton’s Supporters Rally Ahead of Election
Plano, Texas – Attendees at Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s election night watch party expressed unwavering support for him even before Donald Trump’s endorsement. At a Marriott hotel ballroom, while balancing plates of brisket and nachos, one guest remarked that although Trump’s late endorsement was beneficial, it wasn’t the main reason for backing Paxton.
Many supporters credited his legal battles against the Biden administration and his long-standing credentials as a conservative in Texas politics for their allegiance. Trump’s endorsement, which arrived just a week prior to the runoff against Republican Sen. John Cornyn, certainly added momentum to this high-profile Republican race, noted as the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history, lasting over a year.
Some attendees seemed to believe that Paxton had already built significant loyalty among Texas conservatives long before Trump’s formal support. Lisa Full from McKinney shared her thoughts, saying she had attended the rally when Trump endorsed Paxton. “Honestly, it felt like he already had the support,” she said. Many in her circle had already committed to Paxton, and while some might have shifted their stance due to Trump, she felt the majority remained unchanged.
Full, who mentioned knowing Paxton through her church, also pointed out longstanding dissatisfaction among Republican voters with Cornyn. “Texans have been very dissatisfied with Cornyn for a long time,” she said. “We couldn’t get him out because no one was strong enough to stand up to him. This was probably the first real hope we had.”
Other supporters highlighted Paxton’s legal efforts against the Biden administration as a compelling reason to back his Senate bid. “He has supported Big Pharma, immigration, border security, education, and many other issues,” Cindy Patterson from Richardson noted. “During the Biden administration, he kept us sane and won most of the cases against some of the crazy things the administration was pushing.”
Schoolteacher Kristy Grubbs echoed these sentiments, expressing her support for Paxton due to his handling of the pandemic and his opposition to the Biden administration.
As Paxton’s supporters celebrated his victory on Tuesday night, many began contemplating the general election and a prospective match-up with Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, who has garnered national attention for his sharp criticism of the GOP and a robust social media presence.
Participants at the Plano Watch Party expressed confidence that Paxton’s conservative credentials and close ties to Trump would resonate with Texas voters in the upcoming November showdown. “It’s welcome. I love the contrast between Paxton and Talarico,” said magician John Montez, amusing guests with card tricks. “I mean, he’s a weirdo,” he added, referring to Talarico.
