This was surprising to hear.
President Donald Trump is facing calls to become more involved in the increasingly competitive Texas Senate race, with Republican strategist Karl Rove warning that time is running short to help GOP nominee Ken Paxton.
Rove’s warning comes as Paxton battles Democrat James Talarico in a race attracting growing national attention ahead of the November election.
During an appearance Wednesday on Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” Rove argued that Trump and Republicans need to act quickly if they want to strengthen Paxton’s position.
“So, time is running out,” Rove said.
Rove argued that additional financial support could help Republicans run advertisements highlighting Talarico’s policy positions and political record.
Rove said that if Trump wants to help Paxton secure the seat, he should direct substantial financial support toward the campaign so it can air ads portraying Talarico as firmly aligned with the political left.
According to Rove, failing to respond aggressively could allow Democrats to keep the campaign focused on controversies surrounding Paxton.
“If not, Talarico is going to run the message of, ‘My opponent is the most corrupt politician in Texas history,’ all the way to the victory lane,” Rove added.
Texas Senate Race Tightens
The warning comes as polling has raised questions about what was once expected to be safer Republican territory.
One recent survey cited in the original report showed Talarico receiving support from 47 percent of respondents, compared with 40 percent for Paxton.
Other recent polling has indicated a considerably closer contest.
An Overton Insights/Texas Public Policy Foundation survey conducted in late August, for example, showed Talarico at 44 percent and Paxton at 43.4 percent among likely voters. When voters who initially said they were undecided were pressed on which candidate they leaned toward, the race was effectively tied.
As always, individual polls provide snapshots of public opinion rather than guarantees about what voters will ultimately do on Election Day.
Still, the attention surrounding the numbers illustrates why Republicans are watching Texas carefully.
Why Texas Matters
Texas has been one of the Republican Party’s most important states for decades.
Democrats have repeatedly attempted to break the GOP’s winning streak in statewide elections, including former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s heavily publicized 2018 challenge against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
Cruz ultimately prevailed.
The current political environment, however, has put the state’s Senate contest back in the national spotlight.
Paxton enters the general election with substantial name recognition after years as Texas attorney general, but his long political career has also produced controversies that Democrats are highlighting.
Paxton’s Past Returns to the Campaign
Paxton was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023 on allegations that included bribery and abuse of public trust.
He denied wrongdoing and was ultimately acquitted by the Texas Senate.
Although Paxton survived the impeachment battle, Democrats are now attempting to make those controversies a major issue in the Senate campaign.
Rove’s comments suggest Republicans should prevent that argument from dominating the final weeks before voters cast their ballots.
His proposed strategy is straightforward: spend more money defining Talarico and his positions before Democrats can define the election entirely around Paxton.
Outside Money Begins Flowing Into Texas
National political groups are already paying attention.
Outside organizations supporting Paxton have begun putting significant resources behind his campaign as Republicans work to maintain control of the Senate seat.
That spending could become increasingly important as Election Day approaches and more voters begin focusing on the race.
Campaign advertising traditionally becomes more intense during the closing weeks of an election, particularly in competitive statewide contests.
Rove’s warning suggests he believes Republicans cannot afford to wait much longer.
Trump Becomes Part of the Equation
Trump’s political influence is another important element of the race.
The president remains the dominant national figure within the Republican Party, meaning his involvement could bring additional attention and resources to Paxton’s campaign.
But the national political environment presents complications for both parties.
Polling cited in the original report showed Trump’s approval rating below his disapproval rating nationally. At the same time, voters have been weighing concerns ranging from the economy and cost of living to foreign policy and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Those issues could influence congressional contests well beyond Texas.
For Paxton, however, the immediate challenge is closer to home: keeping Republican voters unified while attracting enough independents and other Texans to secure the Senate seat.
Talarico, meanwhile, must convince voters that a Democrat can represent a state where Republicans have enjoyed decades of success in statewide elections.
All Eyes Turn to November
Texas has long been viewed as reliably Republican in statewide politics, but the Senate contest is receiving considerably more attention as November approaches.
For Republicans, losing a Senate seat in Texas would carry national consequences. For Democrats, winning statewide in Texas would represent a significant political breakthrough.
That explains the urgency behind Rove’s message.
His warning wasn’t that Trump’s own political time was running out. Instead, he was arguing that the window for Trump and Republicans to provide Paxton with additional campaign support is beginning to close.
With Election Day approaching, both parties now have limited time to make their case to Texas voters — and the fight over one of America’s most closely watched Senate races is likely to become even more intense.