The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), held near Dallas, Texas, became a rallying point for supporters of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton, who is vying for a U.S. Senate seat, was lauded as the preferred candidate by numerous right-wing activists, overshadowing his opponent, Sen. John Cornyn.
During the event, Paxton engaged with his supporters in various private gatherings and delivered the keynote speech at the Ronald Reagan dinner. His presence was met with enthusiastic applause, while any mention of Cornyn drew boos. Paxton attributed his political resilience to the support from his party’s grassroots base, stating, “I want you to know, there’s only one reason I got through all that, and it’s by the grace of God.”
Despite neither candidate securing enough votes in the March 3 primary to win the nomination outright, Paxton’s strong connection with the party’s base could be pivotal. Cornyn, who has significantly out-fundraised Paxton and enjoys backing from Washington’s party establishment, might face a tough challenge due to Paxton’s popularity among the conservative base.
The winner of the runoff will compete against Democrat James Talarico in a crucial Senate race as Republicans aim to maintain control of Congress. Paxton was the overwhelming favorite in CPAC’s straw poll, beating Cornyn by more than three to one. Cornyn, on the other hand, did not attend CPAC.
‘There’s got to be a change’
Despite President Donald Trump’s earlier promise to endorse either Paxton or Cornyn, no such announcement has been made. Paxton, nevertheless, has successfully aligned himself with the party’s right wing.
Luke Brown, a college student from Amarillo, Texas, expressed his support for Paxton, stating, “The real benefit of Paxton is that he is more an ally of Trump. There’s got to be a change for newer conservatives.”
Although Cornyn initially led in the primary, Paxton quickly aligned himself with Trump by supporting the SAVE Act, legislation demanding stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. This proposal has stalled in the Senate due to filibuster concerns. Paxton criticized Cornyn as a “coward” for his stance on the issue, prompting Cornyn to eventually support potential Senate rule changes.
‘Too little too late’
During his reception, Paxton highlighted the shift in Cornyn’s stance, remarking, “Unfortunately, John Cornyn has never been focused on this issue until right now, when I called him out on it.” Cornyn’s campaign countered by emphasizing Cornyn’s co-sponsorship of the voting legislation.
Joe Ropar, a defense contractor at CPAC, praised Paxton’s political strategies as “brilliant,” suggesting Cornyn’s recent actions were “too little too late.” Paxton received widespread support at CPAC, with figures like Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, championing him as a symbol of the MAGA movement.
When CPAC senior fellow Mercedes Schlapp gauged audience support, Paxton garnered cheers, while Cornyn received minimal approval.
‘Time for a change’
Paxton drew parallels between his and Trump’s experiences with political persecution, both having faced impeachment but remaining influential within the party. Cornyn, meanwhile, faces criticism from some conservatives for past positions, including his early opposition to Trump’s border wall proposal and his support for gun control legislation.
Valerie Burge, a retired music teacher, noted her previous support for Cornyn but expressed uncertainty about the upcoming runoff, pondering if “it might be time for something new.” Barbara Palmer, a lawyer, echoed this sentiment, citing Cornyn’s lengthy tenure and suggesting “it’s just time for a change.”
