<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) stated on September 1, 2026, that the Republican Party will require President Donald Trump's assistance with funding for the Texas Senate race, highlighting the importance of the seat for maintaining the party's majority in the Senate.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In an interview with Fox News's Martha MacCallum, Thune discussed GOP donors looking to Trump for financial support for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, as some donors believe Paxton's primary competitor, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), would be a stronger candidate.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thune, who endorsed Cornyn while Trump supported Paxton, mentioned that Texas is "an incredibly expensive state" that needs to be prioritized as the GOP aims to retain its Senate majority.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Everybody is all in for Ken Paxton. The primary is over. We’re focused now on the general election,” Thune said. “But because Texas is such an expensive state, we’re going to need the president and his team to be engaged there and to be putting resources into that race.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump’s campaign fundraising organization, Make America Great Again Inc., has not yet contributed to Paxton’s campaign, despite having over $400 million in cash on hand at the end of July, according to Federal Election Commission filings.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cornyn was considered a safe choice for Republicans in Texas, but Trump’s endorsement of Paxton influenced the outcome in the primary runoff. Cornyn has raised over $14.2 million this year but is not supporting Paxton's campaign following his loss.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Support from GOP donors appears uncertain after Trump's endorsement of Paxton complicated the incumbent's reelection efforts. A Republican donor told Politico that Trump needs to "step up to save Paxton" in the race, stating, "you broke it, now you own it."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Paxton enters the general election facing challenges, including a dismissed securities fraud charge and an impeachment from which he was acquitted. His opponent, Democratic state Representative James Talarico, is highlighting Paxton’s past during the campaign.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On September 1, the political action committee supporting Paxton, Lone Star Liberty, released an advertisement promoting Paxton’s record as attorney general against large corporations. The PAC also released a second ad criticizing Talarico for supporting legislation that allowed Chinese-owned companies to acquire land in Texas.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A CNN report indicated that Talarico previously referred to capitalism as "oppressive," linking it to climate change and white supremacy during a 2020 video call with Austin Sierra Club activists. Talarico expressed gratitude for young activists connecting these issues.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Talarico also criticized the oil industry, stating, "We all know that Texas has been a leader in oil and gas, but in many ways that’s like being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s. That industry is not going to last. And if we want to ensure we have an economy that’s going to work for our children and our children’s children, we got to be ahead of the curve, and Texas has to lead instead of follow on this issue."</p>