A MAGA Proxy War in Texas

A battle is sweeping the Long Star State to determine who is more loyal to Trump.

Author

Anthony Constantini
June 27, 2025

_WHAT’S HAPPENING_

Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) has served in the Senate since 2002. But that time could be coming to an end next year as he faces a serious challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Paxton has a controversial past in Texas, having been impeached for abuse of power. But that has not dented his popularity among Republicans: so far, he has led Cornyn in every public poll.

The race more broadly represents the nationwide shift in the Republican Party away from moderate, Bush-type conservatism and toward a more aggressive, MAGA Republicanism.

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