started · updated
John Cornyn criticizes Ken Paxton's campaign performance in Texas Senate race
Outgoing Republican Senator John Cornyn has publicly criticized Ken Paxton, the GOP nominee for his Senate seat in Texas, calling him a ‘lazy’ and ‘poor campaigner’ who fails to raise sufficient funds. Cornyn, who lost the primary runoff to Paxton following a Donald Trump endorsement, announced he will not participate in fundraising for Paxton’s general election campaign, opting instead to redirect resources to more competitive races in New Hampshire, Michigan, and Alaska.
Financial filings reveal a significant disparity between the candidates. As of late June 2026, Paxton had raised approximately $9.2 million with $1.7 million in cash on hand. In contrast, Democratic challenger James Talarico has reported fundraising as high as $68.5 million, maintaining $21.5 million in the bank. Talarico has utilized this advantage to dominate airwaves with campaign advertisements.
While Republican leaders previously warned that a Trump endorsement of Paxton would require significant financial backing to remain competitive, the super PAC MAGA Inc. has yet to deploy substantial funds for the race. Donald Trump has recently increased his focus on Texas, including headlining a fundraiser in Houston, though it was for the Republican National Committee rather than Paxton’s specific campaign.
Entities
Donald Trump · James Talarico · John Cornyn · Ken Paxton · MAGA Inc. · Texas
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Donald Trump stated he intends to help Ken Paxton and spend significant time in Texas. kvia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] John Cornyn will not fundraise for Ken Paxton’s general election campaign. upolitics.com
- [DISPUTED] Ken Paxton raised approximately $9.2 million for the general election with $1.7 million cash on hand as of late June 2026. upolitics.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ken Paxton is a poor, lazy campaigner who fails to raise sufficient funds. upolitics.com · www.alternet.org
- [DISPUTED] Democratic candidate James Talarico raised as much as $68.5 million with $21.5 million cash on hand. upolitics.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] MAGA Inc. has not yet spent significant funds to support Ken Paxton's campaign. kvia.com