Key facts
- Senator Thom Tillis called Donald Trump's support for Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate Republican primary a "colossal mistake."
- Tillis stated that Trump's endorsement of Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn put the Senate seat at risk for Republicans.
- Ken Paxton defeated four-term Senator John Cornyn in the May primary.
- Paxton will face Democratic candidate James Talarico in the general election on November 3.
- Trump endorsed Paxton shortly before the primary, citing his support for the Make America Great Again movement.
- Paxton has faced accusations of corruption, was impeached in 2023, and indicted on felony securities fraud charges.
US Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, criticized Donald Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate Republican primary, calling it a "colossal mistake" and an "unforced error." Tillis argued that Trump's decision to back Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn has jeopardized the GOP's hold on the Senate seat heading into the November general election.
Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, defeated four-term Senator Cornyn in the May primary and is now set to face Democratic candidate James Talarico, a state legislator, on November 3. Tillis, who is retiring, expressed concern over the financial resources being spent in the Texas race due to the primary outcome, stating, "We would not be spending tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in Texas if Cornyn had won."
Trump's endorsement of Paxton came just days before the primary, with the former president highlighting Paxton's loyalty to the Make America Great Again movement. Cornyn had previously suggested that Republicans should move on from Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump had also publicly called Cornyn "VERY disloyal."
Paxton faces significant challenges due to various political scandals, including an impeachment in 2023 for corruption charges and an indictment for felony securities fraud, though the latter was dismissed after a pretrial diversion agreement. His wife also filed for divorce in July 2025, citing adultery.
Tillis has been a vocal critic of Trump, previously defending the NATO military alliance and calling for the resignation of then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. He was also among a small group of Republicans who voted in favor of a Democrat-led war powers resolution to end the US war with Iran, which ultimately failed in the Senate.