Republicans are increasingly concerned that a bitter Senate primary in Texas next year could make it harder to defend their majority in the upper chamber.

Earlier this week, the Senate Leadership Fund rolled out a poll showing Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) trailing Attorney General Ken Paxton by 16 points. But in a hypothetical general election poll, Paxton loses by 1 point to former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who is considering a run.

Cornyn and his allies argue that if Paxton wins the GOP nomination, Republicans will be forced to allocate more resources as the party seeks to defend and expand its majority in the Senate.

“The main concern is that nobody wants to spend a bunch of money in Texas where we should be able to win a race,” Cornyn told The Hill, noting the recent poll showing Paxton down against Allred.

“That would be the first time since 1994 that a Democrat could win, so we’re not going to let that happen,” the senator added.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has set a goal of netting Republicans 55 seats in the midterms next year, targeting Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire and defending Republican seats in Maine, North Carolina and Ohio.

Many Republicans argue that the possibility of a Paxton nomination throws a wrench into that plan.

“I just hate seeing internecine warfare in my state that’s going to cost a lot of money and will take away from other Senate races where we have a chance of winning, and I think that’s the general sentiment,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who served as Cornyn’s deputy attorney general in Texas when Cornyn was attorney general there.

Cornyn’s allies argue the dynamics of the race will change, noting the campaign has time to close the gap in polling.

“They need to reintroduce the senator to voters because he hasn’t been on the ballot in six years,” said one national Republican operative. “Voters don’t know Ken Paxton for what he is.”

And Cornyn’s team has begun to throw attacks toward Paxton, rolling out a digital video and accusing the attorney general of approving $7.1 million in grants........

© The Hill