An analyst on Monday said that Republicans could be up against a bigger fight to hold onto GOP votes in Texas in the run-off against Trump-challenger Ken Paxton and longtime Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
Scott MacFarlane, chief Washington correspondent and anchor for MeidasTouch, told CNN anchor Boris Sanchez that Cornyn has been a longtime Republican leader and that even if Paxton is the new nominee, President Donald Trump's demand to add more Republican seats in Congress could backfire — and might not work in favor of the GOP.
"I've covered John Cornyn since early in his first term here in Washington — it is disorienting to hear him called 'disloyal to his party,'" MacFarlane said.
"Whether or not Ken Paxton wins this race, there is a consequence for the party having Paxton as the nominee," MacFarlane said.
"They're going to have to marshal a lot of money to fight this fight. But there are also a couple competitive U.S. House races on the southern border. Republicans thought they had gerrymandered those red. I'm not sure they have. But a deflated party could make those even more competitive," MacFarlane added.
MacFarlane: There is a consequence for the party having Paxton as the nominee. They're going to have to marshal a lot of money to fight this fight. But there are also a couple competitive U.S. House races on the southern border. Republicans thought they had gerrymandered those… pic.twitter.com/eHW55EYvtR
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 25, 2026