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Washington’s establishment is lining up behind John Cornyn and then acting surprised when Texans fight back, and that hypocrisy is exactly what Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called out on the Chris Salcedo Show. Paxton rightly slammed Beltway operatives for trying to strong-arm President Trump into anointing an incumbent who has cozied up to the D.C. status quo. The message from Austin is clear: Texans will decide their leaders, not career politicians in Washington.
Paxton didn’t whisper his challenge; he launched a full-throated campaign to replace Cornyn, promising to bring a true America First conservative to the Senate and to smash the swamp’s grip on Texas. He has portrayed himself as the outsider the GOP needs — someone willing to stand with President Trump and fight the establishment rather than bow to it. That pitch resonates with rank-and-file Republicans who are tired of performative conservatism and backroom deals.
Make no mistake: this is about principle and power. For years Washington Republicans have acted as if they know what’s best for Texas, sending endorsements and pressure across state lines while ignoring what grassroots voters want. Texans remember who defends the border, who backs our law enforcement, and who puts America first — and they certainly remember when DC tries to dictate outcomes. The people of Texas do not need permission from Senate leaders to choose their champion.
It’s no surprise the establishment has rallied to Cornyn, drumming up endorsements from a string of former Republican congressmen and leaning on institutional muscle to protect the incumbent. Those endorsements are the very definition of the inside-the-beltway playbook: consolidate the elite, spend the money, and hope voters follow. But votes aren’t bought by press releases; they’re cast by real people who expect real results.
Even President Trump — whose backing could decide this primary — has been careful to say he likes both men and hasn’t rushed into an endorsement, which shows how high the stakes are in Texas for the whole conservative movement. That hesitation should give pause to any Washington power broker who thinks they can foist a candidate on Texas because it suits their Senate math. The grassroots won’t be railroaded, and that’s a healthy thing for the Republican Party.
Critics will point to Paxton’s legal troubles and impeachment fight as reasons to doubt him, and the media will happily amplify every scrap of scandal. Those records are part of the story, and Paxton has had to answer for them — but they do not erase the broader truth that a timid, establishment Republican in the Senate won’t stop Washington’s encroachments on our freedoms. Voters have the right to weigh character, accomplishments, and who will actually fight for them in D.C. without being lectured by party bosses.
Washington Republicans need to learn a simple lesson: stop messing with Texas. The Lone Star State has its own way of doing things, and it will not tolerate outside interference from people whose policies have hollowed out our institutions and sold out conservative principles. If the GOP wants to win and preserve this country, leaders in D.C. should stop trying to control primaries and start defending the movement that delivers victories for hardworking Americans.
