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Texas Senate Fundraiser Excludes Ken Paxton, Highlighting GOP Rift
By Drooid · · How we work
Texas Senate Fundraiser Excludes Ken Paxton
Former President George W. Bush and Senator John Cornyn are co-hosting a Dallas fundraiser for six Republican Senate candidates in battleground states. The invitation, obtained by *The New York Times*, lists Bush as a “special guest.” Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who defeated Cornyn in a costly primary, is not on the guest list. Paxton’s campaign declined to comment on the omission.
Intra-Party Tensions Among Texas Republicans
The exclusion reflects a growing clash between the party’s establishment wing—represented by Bush and Cornyn—and the insurgent faction aligned with Paxton and former President Donald Trump. The primary battle, described as “bitter” and “costly,” positioned Paxton against the old-guard, underscoring divergent strategies for the 2026 elections.
Funding Landscape for the Texas Senate Race
The event will benefit Maintain the Majority, a new joint fundraising committee supporting Republican Senate incumbents in Maine, Ohio, Alaska and Iowa and targeting flips in Michigan and New Hampshire. While Paxton trails Democratic opponent James Talarico in direct campaign receipts, super-PACs linked to Trump and Senate Republicans have allocated more than $80 million for outside advertising in Texas.
Potential Implications for the 2026 Election
Analysts note that the fundraiser’s donor focus on non-Texan races may limit cash flow to Paxton’s campaign, potentially affecting his competitiveness in a race identified as one of the year’s top contests. The episode also signals how internal GOP divisions could shape fundraising priorities and voter outreach as Republicans seek to defend and expand Senate seats nationwide.