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Cornyn: Democrat winning Senate race in Texas would be ‘first crack in the red wall’ Campaign | 3 minutes ago

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Cornyn: Democrat winning Senate race in Texas would be ‘first crack in the red wall’

Republican Sen. John Cornyn on Monday said a Democrat taking his Texas seat would be “the first crack in the red wall” as he raises alarm about the state’s competitive GOP primary.

The incumbent said that either Democrat contender — James Talarico or Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) — “absolutely” has a chance of winning in the red state, especially if they face the state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, in the general election.

“We haven’t elected a Democrat since 1994 … but this would be the first crack in the red wall, and unfortunately, that’s what is being put at risk as a result of the corruption and the baggage that Ken Paxton brings to this race,” Cornyn told Fox News. 

Texas is among a handful of conservative-leaning states where Democrats are eyeing upsets in a bid to take control of the Senate, along with Iowa, Ohio and Alaska.

Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) are both challenging Cornyn in a tight race that’s expected to spill from the March 3 primary into a May runoff. 

As the primary nears, Cornyn has upped his warnings of a GOP “massacre” in the Lone Star State if Paxton wins the Republican nod, pointing to controversy swirling around his opponent. 

Paxton’s campaign has shrugged off the critiques, emphasizing the attorney general’s double-digit wins in past elections, as well as Cornyn’s struggle to clinch a majority in recent polls.

A polling average from Decision Desk HQ shows Paxton roughly 4 points ahead of Cornyn in the Republican primary, at roughly 32 percent support to 28 percent, respectively. Hunt brought in 19 percent. 

Cornyn on Fox News drew parallels between Talarico, who gained steam in the Democratic primary after controversy around a CBS “Late Show” appearance that didn’t air, and Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who came within a few points of toppling Sen. Ted Cruz (R) during 2018.

“He’s pretty slick and — with media and obviously drawing crowds — he’s offering change,” Cornyn said, though he argued that Talarico’s approach “is not the sort of talk, as you know, that’s going to attract mainstream Texans in November.”

The last Democratic senator in Texas, which voted for Trump by double digits in 2024, was ousted more than two decades ago. A statewide win for the party has since been seen as a long shot, but Democrats have grown increasingly bullish about their chances with two formidable contenders for their party, plus a tough GOP primary.

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