Karl Rove Criticizes Republican Party Leadership at Texas Tribune Festival

During a one-on-one conversation at the Texas Tribune Festival on September 26, 2026, Karl Rove, a prominent Republican political operative, expressed concerns that the Republican Party is being influenced by extremist elements, referring to them as 'Nazis.' Rove's comments came amid rising concerns among Republicans about potential setbacks in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, particularly regarding U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is facing challenges from Democrats like state Reps. James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa. Rove noted that recent polling indicates that Talarico is gaining ground against Paxton. He mentioned that both U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and Paxton have reached out to him expressing worries about their electoral prospects. Rove highlighted that Paxton's campaign struggles persist despite significant financial backing from the conservative Senate Leadership Fund, attributing this to Paxton's history of scandals, including a public divorce and a bribery investigation. Rove stated, 'If [U.S. Sen.] John Cornyn were the nominee, this race would be over,' referring to Paxton's controversial past. Additionally, Rove announced his intention to vote for Democrat Jon Rosenthal for Texas Railroad Commissioner over Republican Bo French, whom he criticized for his social media comments perceived as bigoted. Rove emphasized that the inclusion of individuals like French and far-right figures such as Nick Fuentes could damage the Republican Party's future. He stated, 'We didn’t labor in the wilderness to build a conservative party that was inclusive and welcoming … to see it taken over by a bunch of bigots.' Voter registration in Texas for the upcoming midterms closes on October 5, with early voting scheduled from October 19 to 30, and Election Day on November 3.