Cornyn Raises Eyebrows With Scorpion and Frog Tweet: Definitely Not a Metaphor'

Sen. John Cornyn lost his Texas Republican primary runoff to Attorney General Ken Paxton and then vowed to support the Republican ticket. Cornyn’s tweets were widely read as aimed at Paxton. The primary fight was described as bitter, with Paxton viewed as having scandals and controversies, while also drawing MAGA support for combative far-right positions. Trump initially withheld endorsement, but later backed Paxton after polling showed Paxton leading. On the Democratic side, James Talarico defeated Jasmine Crockett without a runoff, and Crockett conceded while urging supporters to stay united. After the loss, Cornyn told supporters he would back the man he had called a crook and posted a fable about a scorpion and a frog.

"Just days after Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) lost his primary in Tuesday's runoff and vowed to support the Republican ticket, he posted several tweets that were widely interpreted as throwing shade at his victorious opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). To say that the Cornyn v. Paxton primary battle was bitter and brutal is an epic understatement."

"The incumbent was widely viewed as a stronger candidate in the general election due to Paxton's series of scandals, lawsuits, and controversies not to mention a messy and contentious pending divorce but the attorney general got support from the MAGA wing of the GOP for his combative, far-right stances. President Donald Trump initially declined to endorse for the primary, and rumors were swirling that he was expected to endorse Cornyn, but in the final days of the runoff (and when polling showed Paxton with a substantial lead), Trump threw his support behind the AG."

"Tuesday evening, as Cornyn spoke to disappointed supporters, he said he'd support the man he had spent the last few years calling a crook. I've spent most of my time in the Senate building the Republican party in Texas and in the U.S. Senate, and I've always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election, said Cornyn. I've said throughout this race that I trust the voters of Texas, and they've made their decision, and I must respect it."

"The primary was far less fractious on the Democratic side. State Rep. James Talarico (D) surpassed Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) by a comfortable margin and without needing a runoff; she conceded the race the next morning and tweeted a call for her supporters to remain united and rally around our nominees."

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