Full Breakdown
George W. Bush and John Cornyn Omit Texas Senate Nominee Ken Paxton from Fundraiser
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Fund-raising Excludes Paxton
On a Monday evening in Dallas, former President George W. Bush attended a Republican fundraiser hosted by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). The event, organized by the joint committee “Maintain the Majority,” was intended to raise money for six Republican Senate candidates in battleground states. Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General and GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, was not on the invitation list. Bush’s appearance was confirmed by his spokesperson; Paxton’s campaign declined to comment.
Background & Context
Paxton defeated Cornyn in a costly May runoff primary, winning by roughly 30 percentage points. The omission occurs as both parties scramble for cash and advertising ahead of the 2026 midterms, where control of the Senate hangs in the balance.
Data & Statistics
- Six Senate candidates were slated to benefit from the Dallas fundraiser.
- $15 million of the $415 million cash on hand at Trump’s MAGA Inc. PAC has been spent on ads supporting Paxton, according to the latest FEC filing.
- $1.6 million came from Elon Musk’s America PAC, as noted by former senior adviser Matt Whitlock to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Official Statements & Responses
- A Bush spokesperson confirmed the former president’s role as a “special guest” at the Dallas event.
- Paxton’s campaign offered no comment.
- Whitlock said Bush’s fundraising “fundamentally changed the race,” noting that each dollar raised for other candidates frees resources for Paxton.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Bush and Cornyn raising money for other candidates while leaving Ken out strikes me as the ‘I’d rather be right than win’ mentality that’s infected too much of the party,” — Doug Quezada
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The Paxton campaign has not responded, leaving the impact of the fundraiser on his own fundraising totals unclear.
- While reports confirm the $15 million ad spend from MAGA Inc., the exact amount of additional outside advertising earmarked for Paxton by allied super-PACs is not detailed.
What’s Next
- Early voting in Texas begins Monday, October 19, 2026 and runs through Friday, October 30, 2026.
- The general election is set for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters has expressed confidence that Paxton will retain the seat, emphasizing the state’s historic Republican lean.