Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing sharp criticism from some voters who support President Donald Trump, raising questions about Republican unity ahead of the closely watched U.S. Senate election.
Paxton, the Republican nominee, has Trump’s endorsement. But comments from a group of Texas Republican voters suggest that support for Trump does not automatically translate into enthusiasm for Paxton.
Political strategist Sarah Longwell recently highlighted comments from Republican voters during a discussion with Texas Monthly journalist Christopher Hooks. Several participants expressed serious reservations about Paxton, pointing to controversies that have followed the Texas attorney general throughout his political career.
One Trump supporter delivered an especially harsh assessment.
“If that’s the best we can do, does it really even matter?” the voter said, before comparing the situation to “a toilet bowl flushing” and saying Republicans were going “down, down, down.”
The comments represent the views of individual voters rather than Texas Republicans as a whole. Still, they illustrate the challenge Paxton faces as he works to keep the Republican coalition united.
Some Trump Supporters Aren’t Sold on Paxton
Another voter expressed deep frustration with Paxton and questioned whether she could support him in the general election.
“I am so turned off by Ken Paxton,” she said.
The voter also spoke positively about Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, Paxton’s opponent, describing him as hardworking and someone who “loves God and country and his family.”
That does not necessarily mean traditionally Republican voters will ultimately support Talarico. But dissatisfaction among even a portion of GOP voters could become significant in a competitive statewide race.
Paxton has spent years navigating political and legal controversies, many of which are likely to receive renewed attention during the campaign.
Paxton’s Political History Back in Spotlight
Paxton was indicted on state securities fraud charges in 2015. He denied wrongdoing, and the case was ultimately resolved in 2024 through an agreement that resulted in prosecutors dropping the charges after Paxton agreed to certain conditions, including restitution and community service.
Paxton also faced impeachment proceedings in 2023 following allegations that he misused his office to assist businessman and political donor Nate Paul.
The Texas House voted overwhelmingly to impeach Paxton, temporarily removing him from his duties. The Texas Senate later acquitted him on the impeachment articles considered during his trial, allowing him to return to office. Paxton denied the allegations against him.
Despite those controversies, Paxton remained politically influential in Texas and eventually secured the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
Now Democrats are attempting to use his record as an argument for changing the state’s representation in Washington.
Could Republican Frustration Matter?
Hooks suggested some Texas Republicans may not view a Democratic victory in this particular race as a permanent political transformation of the state.
Paxton has warned conservatives about the consequences of Democrats gaining additional ground in Texas. But Hooks argued that some Republicans could instead blame a potential defeat on dissatisfaction with Paxton himself.
That distinction matters.
Republican voters who dislike Paxton have several choices. They could ultimately vote for him because they prefer Republican policies, support Talarico, choose another option where available, or simply leave the Senate contest blank.
How many voters actually make one of those choices cannot be determined from a small collection of interviews.
Recent statewide polling provides a broader picture of the race.
New Texas Poll Shows a Tight Contest
An AARP Texas poll released September 10 found Talarico receiving support from 48% of likely voters, compared with 44% for Paxton. Another 8% were undecided.
However, Paxton performed considerably better among Texans age 50 and older.
Among likely voters in that age group, Paxton led Talarico 53% to 40%. Older Texans also showed particularly high interest in participating, with 84% rating themselves at the highest level of motivation to vote.
The results demonstrate why isolated criticism from Republican voters should not automatically be interpreted as a widespread revolt against Paxton.
While some Trump supporters clearly have concerns about the Republican nominee, Paxton continues to hold substantial support among an important part of the Texas electorate.
Trump’s Endorsement Raises the Stakes
Trump’s endorsement of Paxton added another dimension to the race.
The president backed Paxton during the Republican contest, placing his political influence behind the Texas attorney general.
According to Hooks, Trump’s involvement also generated some private frustration among Republicans in Texas.
“The way Trump got involved at the last minute is something that has left a lot of bad feeling here in private,” Hooks said.
Whether those feelings remain after Republicans focus on the general election is another question.
Party loyalty often becomes more important once primary battles end, particularly when control of the U.S. Senate is at stake.
Texas Senate Battle Draws National Attention
Texas has long been a Republican stronghold in statewide elections, but the latest polling suggests neither campaign can afford to take voters for granted.
Talarico’s challenge is convincing enough independents and dissatisfied Republicans to consider crossing party lines.
Paxton’s challenge is bringing Republicans who supported other candidates during the primary back together while keeping Trump’s political base engaged.
The focus-group comments show that some Trump voters remain unhappy with Paxton. The broader polling, however, shows a more complicated picture: Paxton continues to perform strongly with older voters even as Talarico holds an advantage in the AARP survey overall.
That makes the coming weeks especially important for both campaigns.
For Republicans, the question is whether disagreements over Paxton fade as Election Day approaches.
For Democrats, the question is whether they can turn Republican dissatisfaction into actual votes.
Either way, the battle for Texas is shaping up to be one of the Senate races drawing significant national attention ahead of November.