The National Border Patrol Council has now endorsed Ken Paxton for Senate, reversing their previous support for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The union's president, Paul Perez, stated that they are "proud" to endorse Paxton, as he will continue to fight for the resources and policies needed to secure America's borders.
Paxton, Texas' current attorney general, has been gaining momentum in the Republican primary, securing support from other key Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Despite previously backing Cornyn, Perez spoke highly of Paxton, highlighting his commitment to upholding the rule of law and defending the nation's sovereignty.
According to a recent poll, Democratic candidate James Talarico is running dead even with Paxton, giving Democrats hope that they can flip a Texas Senate seat blue for the first time in nearly four decades. This would be a devastating blow to the GOP's hopes of retaining a majority in the upper chamber.
Paxton has a long history of suing the federal government, with over 100 lawsuits filed against the Biden administration during his tenure as attorney general. Many of these suits were related to border security, and he even filed a lawsuit on his last day in office over offshore drilling limits.
Paxton has responded to the endorsement, stating that he is "honored" and reaffirming his commitment to fighting for border security and standing with law enforcement officers. Meanwhile, Talarico has emerged as the top Democratic fundraiser in Senate races, hauling in a massive $27 million in the first three months of this year.
According to a recent survey, Paxton and Talarico are tied at 47% support among likely voters in Texas. Paxton has asserted that Talarico "doesn't belong in Texas," highlighting his past controversial comments and questioning his ability to represent the state's values.
