Senate Majority Leader John Thune called Paxton on Wednesday and swiftly endorsed him on radio, signaling a party-wide pivot to general election mode. The move came hours after Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in a primary that cost $130 million.
The rush to unify reflects a stark calculus for Republicans: losing Texas would jeopardize their Senate majority. "Losing is not an option when it comes to the state of Texas," Thune said, taking aim at Democratic nominee state Rep. James Talarico.
Senators began rolling out endorsements as soon as results came in Tuesday night. Sen. Bernie Moreno appears to have been the first GOP senator to back Paxton, writing on X that "the voters have spoken, now Republicans must unite and win."
Cornyn himself has indicated he will support Paxton in the general election, despite the brutal primary fight. The party is now working to portray the contest as a closed chapter, with donors and leaders focused on holding the seat.
Yet the primary's $130 million price tag and lingering bad blood could complicate unity efforts. Some Republican strategists privately question whether the party's base will fully coalesce around Paxton after such a divisive race.