Major GOP donors revolt with revelation they 'can't stomach' Trump candidate: report

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is finding he is fending off his Democratic opponent for Sen. John Cornyn's US Senate seat with one hand tied behind his back — because wealthy GOP donors the party depends upon consider him toxic.

Major Republican donors are openly revolting against funding Paxton's campaign, viewing him as damaged goods despite party pressure to unite behind him in a competitive Senate race, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The conflict became apparent immediately after Paxton secured the GOP nomination. His campaign began reaching out to wealthy contributors, starting with billionaire businessman Bob Rowling who had previously donated $750,000 to support Cornyn. But Rowling, an early Paxton backer, had "soured" on the attorney general due to allegations of extramarital affairs and personal disappointment over his defeat of Cornyn.

Rowling initially refused to contribute. It took a personal call from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) urging him to reconsider—combined with growing concern about Democrat James Talarico's viability—to convince Rowling to meet with Paxton.

According to the Journal, "Rowling’s hesitation highlights the bind confronting a bloc of deep-pocketed Texans weighing how involved to get in the race. Many can’t stomach Paxton—a populist firebrand dogged by legal and ethical scandals and known for targeting corporate interests. But with control of the Senate in the balance and a well-funded Democrat on the other side, some are deciding they can’t afford to sit this one out.

Paxton’s success hinges, in part, on winning them back, the Journal reported.

The most damning revelation involves donors at a major Republican fundraising organization who explicitly requested their contributions bypass Paxton entirely. Their reasoning was stark, the Journal reported — his office had sued many of them, and they feared he would weaponize their donations against their interests.

The fundraising gap underscores Paxton's vulnerability. Talarico's campaign committees hold $23.3 million in combined cash reserves compared to Paxton's $6.9 million. In Texas, with "20 media markets and 19 million registered voters spread across two time zones" that disparity is significant.

Rowling has decided to contribute six figures to Paxton's campaign, framing it as a "binary choice" between unacceptable options. But he's pessimistic about whether other donors will follow suit, citing widespread concern about Paxton's aggressive litigation targeting business interests, the report stated.

A Wall Street Journal review found that Paxton's office has filed lawsuits against organizations belonging to at least 30 donors and groups who collectively contributed $38.5 million to Republican causes since 2023—creating obvious anxiety about potential retaliation.

Republicans are hoping Trump and his allies will intervene. MAGA Inc., the Trump-aligned super PAC, sits on $382 million but has made no commitments to assist Paxton's struggling campaign, the Journal reported.