"Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) sharply criticized the divisive Texas Senate runoff, lamenting President Donald Trump's delay in issuing an endorsement and calling his fellow Republicans lazy and unstrategic. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is in the fight of his political life in the May 23 runoff election against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and it's already gotten viciously, personally brutal."
"Trump declined to endorse for the primary but posted on Truth Social the next day that he would endorse soon, urging whoever didn't get his endorsement to drop out. Multiple media outlets reported the president was expected to endorse Cornyn, but Paxton tweeted a Hail Mary that seems to have been effective in at least delaying an endorsement for his rival, pledging he would drop out if Senate leadership lifts the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act."
"Even before the runoff, this year's Texas Senate battle was the most expensive Senate primary on record, burning through over $128 million, with a whopping $98.9 million spent just by the Republican campaigns and PACs."
The Texas Senate runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton has become increasingly contentious and expensive. Cornyn is viewed as the stronger general election candidate despite Paxton's appeal to the MAGA wing of the GOP. Trump delayed endorsing either candidate, creating uncertainty that allowed Paxton to leverage Trump's support for the SAVE Act as a negotiating tool. Cornyn subsequently shifted his position to support eliminating the filibuster for the bill's passage. On the Democratic side, State Rep. James Talarico defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett. The Republican primary alone exceeded $98.9 million in spending, part of a record-breaking $128 million total for the primary battle. Sen. Tillis has publicly criticized the divisiveness and strategic failures of his fellow Republicans.
Read at www.mediaite.com
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