What’s at stake for Democrats and Republicans in the Texas Senate primary

Amna Nawaz:

For those of you staying with us, voters head to the polls tomorrow in Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas.

But in the Lone Star State, competitive races on both sides of the aisle have fueled unprecedented spending.

Political reporter Lisa Desjardins has more on what’s at stake in the U.S. Senate race in Texas.

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Lisa Desjardins:

Welcome to the race for the US Senate, which is the size of the state of Texas, with unprecedented primaries, one for each party.

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas):

The character is on the ballot. I think voters still care about their elected officials, and they want people who will tell them the truth.

Lisa Desjardins:

The current president, Republican John Cornyn, faces two other representatives from Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt. It’s the fight of his 24-year career.

Tony Plohitsky, American statesman from Austin:

It’s tried and true in the minds of many Texas voters.

Lisa Desjardins:

Tony Plohitsky is a journalist for The Austin-American Statesman.

Cornyn serves as an experienced and battle-tested veteran. However, while he was once ranked among the most conservative senators, now?

Tony Plohitsky:

Paxton, his voters, and his supporters have already managed to reinforce the idea that John Cornyn was not tough enough.

Lisa Desjardins:

Paxton’s policies are super MAGA policies.

Ken Paxton (R), Texas Senate Candidate: I want you to know that I’m not going to Washington, D.C., to join the Swamp Club.

Lisa Desjardins:

As Attorney General, Paxton flatly enforced the state’s abortion ban and filed a lawsuit challenging the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

man:

Attorney General Paxton, please stand up.

Lisa Desjardins:

But he faced intense scrutiny. In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives issued 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton for bribery and abuse of power on charges that he had an affair and obtained a job for the woman as part of a quid pro quo. The state Senate narrowly acquitted him, but his wife has filed for divorce, and Cornyn has made this new announcement.

Narrator:

Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. She divorces him for biblical reasons.

Lisa Desjardins:

It’s personal, and Paxton responded to that.

woman:

My father is a really good man. He loves God, he loves his family, and he loves this country.

Lisa Desjardins:

With his daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and him on FaceTime.

Plohitsky says it might work.

Tony Plohitsky:

He has successfully dodged and overcome numerous allegations, yet the MAGA base in particular has continued to support him.

Lisa Desjardins:

But what about the MAGA president?

President Donald Trump:

Well, thank you all very much. I’m thrilled to be back in the great state of Texas.

Lisa Desjardins:

President Donald Trump seems to support everyone.

President Donald Trump:

We have a great prosecutor, Ken Paxton. Where is Ken? Hi Ken. Hi Ken. And we have the great Senator John Cornyn. Hi John. Thank you John.

Lisa Desjardins:

For example, Friday.

President Donald Trump:

Another friend of mine is doing very well, Wesley Hunt. Where is Wesley? Wesley Hunt. Do a good job.

Lisa Desjardins:

As for Hunt, his aggressive move in the state could mean that neither Paxton nor Cornyn can secure a majority, which could lead to a runoff in May. All of this should get Texas Democrats’ hopes up again, even as they face their own brutal battle between their two elected representatives, Austin State Representative James Tallarico and Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Senate candidate: You spend more taxpayer resources arresting journalists than you do going after pedophiles and hackers.

Lisa Desjardins:

On Capitol Hill, Crockett is a rhetorical brawler, known for pulling no punches, as we saw with AG Pam Bondi.

Representative Yasmine Crockett:

I don’t quite understand why you’re sitting at the head of the Department of Justice, because you don’t look good at your job.

Lisa Desjardins:

She says Democrats in Texas and across the country want a fighter.

Representative Yasmine Crockett:

Right now, people are not happy with the Democratic Party. I’ve seen the ballot. What they want is someone who will not be afraid in the face of what we face now.

State Rep. James Tallarico (D-Texas), Senate candidate: We have to win in November. I think she and I are committed to that.

Lisa Desjardins:

Talarico does not differ much from Crockett in politics, but he differs greatly in style. He leans on God and does not throw his elbows.

State Rep. James Tallarico:

My faith teaches me that love is the most powerful force in the universe.

Lisa Desjardins:

Talarico rose to national prominence when he and other state Democrats left Texas to delay efforts to redraw the GOP’s maps.

STEPHEN COLBERT, host of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’: This isn’t the first time he’s caused some drama.

Lisa Desjardins:

Most recently, he benefited after CBS blocked his interview with late-night show host Stephen Colbert. It was released on YouTube instead, and Talarico raised more than $2 million the next day.

For Democrats, this is an important decision about who is stronger and who is most electable. It could offer guidelines for Democrats nationally, including Hispanic voters, with whom Trump made significant gains in 2024.

Tony Plohitsky:

We’ve seen President Trump’s very aggressive immigration policies. What we do know is that a lot of these Hispanic voters appear to be turning away from the president.

But, in addition to the immigration issue, they say the president has not performed as they had hoped on the economy.

Lisa Desjardins:

Democrats are raising money and expectations in a high-stakes year.

Ingrid Bond, Elector:

I hope that the country will decide and the people of Texas will decide that this has gone too far and that there will be a change in the direction of our policies.

Lisa Desjardins:

But this does not change their current reality. No Democrat has won the statewide in more than 30 years.

Tony Plohitsky:

There is a lot of hope and excitement in this race and this could be the right time. But keep in mind that Texas Democrats are constantly in the habit of having their hearts broken. They believe this can happen in every race. Yes, there is a path, but this path is definitely not a straight path.

Lisa Desjardins:

In order to win, both sides pay whatever opponent they want. The governor and Republican interest groups are sending text messages and ads to boost Crockett. Speaking with Democrats, they largely believe Paxton gives them the best chance. Cornyn, the current Republican candidate, agrees with this opinion.

Senator John Cornyn:

If Ken Paxton is at the top of the ticket, we risk losing the Senate seat, losing the majority in the House of Representatives, and that will negatively affect everyone voting.

Lisa Desjardins:

It’s a five-way race in Texas, signaling 2026. It’s going to be a bumpy and bumpy road into November.

On the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Lisa Desjardins.