Is Trump’s influence on the Republican Party so profound that it might actually make Texas a contested battleground? This is the burning question both parties are grappling with as the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate nomination drags on, with Trump notably withholding his endorsement of either Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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According to a report from Semafor, Trump’s indecision is costing the Republican Party a staggering amount—potentially tens of millions of dollars:
“We could have tens of millions of dollars being spent in a runoff in Texas, with the added risk of whatever gets said being used as ammunition for the Democrat marketing department,” warned Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., in his comments to Semafor. “Primaries can be nasty. And runoffs? They’re even more brutal.” He, along with other Republicans, cautioned that if Paxton emerges victorious, he may need an additional $100-$200 million to remain competitive in the general election.
The stakes for Republicans are monumental. They are currently pouring resources into a runoff, and should Paxton win, he might require an astronomical sum to compete effectively in the general election.
What might this general election landscape look like? Early insights are emerging from a new PPP Poll.
The key takeaway? It appears that regardless of who triumphs in the Republican runoff, the upcoming election is bound to be a nail-biter, presenting Democrats with their best opportunity to flip a Senate seat in Texas since Beto O’Rourke’s challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz.
Stay tuned to discover the single statistic that should send shivers down the spines of Republicans.
