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GOP alarm as Trump backs Ken Paxton in tight Texas race

politicsSep 3, 2026436,079

Former President Donald Trump formally endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and urged voters to back him even as conservative strategists warn Paxton is struggling in the general election. Fox News contributor Karl Rove told Brian Kilmeade that “time is running out” for Paxton, saying state Rep. James Talarico dominates fundraising and advertising and that Paxton would have lost the primary without Trump’s backing. Rove noted Sen. John Cornyn told The Texas Tribune he will not assist Paxton, calling him “lazy and doesn’t raise money,” and he repeated calls for Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC to deploy major funds to the campaign. Rove criticized Paxton’s recent travel and personal conduct and warned Talarico could run the message that Paxton is “the most corrupt politician in Texas history.” Paxton’s campaign has been weighed down by controversies cited by Rove, including alleged voter fraud claims, lavish vacations linked to a reported mistress, and his office’s plea deal involving Adam Hoffman. Separately, Elon Musk’s America PAC has begun midterms spending, with CNN reporting roughly $247,000 of that money directed to help Paxton, a small infusion compared with Talarico’s reported multimillion-dollar ad advantage.

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