Republican Infighting Could Give Democrats Their Biggest Opening Yet in Texas
Amid a pending divorce, Ken and Angela Paxton likely have their fair share of disagreements. But one thing they agree on: Democrats only have a shot at winning Texas if Republicans fail to stand by their candidates.
In a deep-red state like Texas, the Senate race should be a shoo-in. As election day nears, however, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is neck and neck against Democrat state Rep. James Talarico. The race is so close not because Texas has suddenly swung left, but because Republicans are undercutting their own candidates.
For state Sen. Angela Paxton, who filed for divorce in July 2025, the choice hits close to home. But in a new ad released in October, she called voters to rally behind the Republican ticket for the greater good.
“In a general election, it’s not as much about the individual players on the team. It’s about getting the whole team across the finish line,” she said. “Either we hold every Republican seat, or we hand the future of Texas to the other team.”
Her analysis is correct. And unless more Republicans heed her advice, Democrats may have a shot come November. Throughout this election season, prominent Texas Republicans have been punching to the right to appeal to the “moderate” crowd—in other words, to virtue signal.
One of the clearest examples came after Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commission Bo French posted a photo of Indian students at a University of Texas football game, expressing concern about demographic change. Agree or disagree with the post, everyone saw the swift response from fellow Republicans.
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Sen. John Cornyn called French “an embarrassment to the Republican Party” and pledged not to vote for him, while Karl Rove—former advisor to President George W. Bush—publicly said he would vote for French’s Democrat opponent.
This dynamic rarely, if ever, plays out in the Democratic Party.
When Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat, was running for office in 2025, leaked text messages showed he wished a Republican opponent would get “two bullets in the head.” Not only that, but he called the opponent’s children “little fascists” and admitted to wishing they would die. “Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy,” he said.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger strictly refused to call for his withdrawal from the race, but said “it’s up to every voter.” And ultimately, Democrats rallied behind Jones to install him in office.
Democrats have little remorse about supporting distasteful candidates if it will further their cause. Republicans, however, have a little more timidity. In Texas, that could be their downfall.
“In the general election, Democrats do historically a little bit of a better job making sure that everybody marches in lockstep, and that’s what needs to happen for the Republicans,” state Rep. Brian Harrison told the Daily Signal.
Republicans have won every statewide election in Texas for more than three decades. But divisions within the party can give Democrats an opportunity in this traditionally challenging environment.
“Every Republican needs to realize the future of liberty and freedom, not just in Texas, but in the country,” Harrison said. “Texas is the line in the sand for liberty in America. We’re the electoral firewall.”
Texas has 40 electoral votes, more than New York or Florida. The state is a high-stakes target. And with a Democrat Senate victory, it could prove more appealing for future Democrat investment to flip the state blue permanently. Already, Latino Democrats are calling for outside operatives to throw $10 million behind state Rep. Gina Hinojosa’s bid to defeat Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
“Texas is the biggest battleground state in America because the leftists believe Texas is the crown jewel in their plans to ultimately destroy freedom in our country,” Harrison said. “With the stakes this high, every Republican needs to get on board in making sure we defeat every Democrat on the ballot.”
The disagreements among Texas Republicans seem minute when compared to the Democrats on the ballot. If Republicans don’t vote for Paxton because they dislike him, it’s hard to believe they would more closely align with James Talarico, who claims he wants to “dismantle” capitalism.
“He is the most extreme leftist progressive candidate to ever run for statewide office in Texas,” Harrison said. “Don’t let his choir boy persona or faux seminarian student persona fool you.”
Harrison said if Texas goes blue, the implications would be catastrophic.’
“The way Texas could go blue is if people take Texas for granted and assume it’s always going to be a red state,” Harrison said, “or if people who have political influence in Texas, like Senator Cornyn, refuse to do everything they can to defeat the Democrat ticket.”
The path for Democrats to become viable statewide may not run through convincing Texas to embrace a Democratic agenda. It may run through convincing enough Republicans that they would rather distance themselves from their own party than accept a candidate they dislike.
We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of the Daily Signal.
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