Texas GOP Senate field could get crowded
Ronny Jackson eyes bid amid Paxton electability concerns
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Multiple Texas Republicans are actively weighing a U.S. Senate run, with Reps. Ronny Jackson and Wesley Hunt among those considering a challenge — as GOP leaders scramble to counter Ken Paxton’s early polling advantage over Sen. John Cornyn.
Several internal and public polls show Paxton leading Cornyn in a hypothetical GOP primary, sparking concerns that the embattled Attorney General — still facing criminal charges and fresh off a failed impeachment — could win the nomination but lose the general election, putting a historically safe Republican seat in play.
While neither Jackson nor Hunt has made a formal announcement, both are seen as rising stars in the party with strong ties to the pro-Trump base. And they may not be alone. Other Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation and beyond are said to be eyeing the race as the party assesses how to stop Paxton without fracturing the conservative coalition.
Jackson is considering a Senate bid amid concerns about Paxton’s ability to win a general election, one source familiar with Jackson’s deliberations said.
“It’s not surprising that Ken’s ahead in a Republican primary — he’s been rallying that base for years,” said a senior Texas GOP strategist. “What’s alarming is that the same polling shows he’d likely lose in November. That’s the nightmare scenario.”
Cornyn, who has not officially declared whether he’ll seek another term, has seen his standing among GOP voters weaken in recent years. Still, some in the party argue a divided field could hand the nomination to Paxton by default — a scenario Republicans are increasingly eager to avoid.
“There are candidates who can appeal to the MAGA base and win the general,” said one Republican operative. “Ken isn’t one of them.”
Others caution against overstating the threat. “Texas is going to stay red,” said a GOP member of Congress. “Yes, it’ll be expensive. But Democrats are not flipping Texas.”
Rep. Jake Ellzey urged skepticism around polling, noting that push polls have distorted races in the past. “I’m loyal to my friends,” he said. “John Cornyn is one of them.”
Still, strategists point to Georgia and Alabama as cautionary tales — where controversial GOP candidates lost winnable races in red states. With Democrats already eyeing Texas as a potential 2026 battleground, the Republican establishment is watching closely — and quietly working to ensure Paxton doesn’t walk away with the nomination unopposed.
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