Senator Cornyn Indicates Possible Absence from Midterm Convention

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) suggested he may not attend a midterm convention scheduled for September, which will support his primary rival, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. When asked about his attendance, Cornyn remarked, "I may have a conflict." The convention will take place in Dallas on September 9 and 10, and Cornyn's potential absence reflects ongoing tensions between him and Paxton. Cornyn, who lost to Paxton in the May primary, has previously refrained from campaigning for him, expressing concerns that Paxton's nomination could jeopardize the Texas Senate seat for Republicans. Despite this, Cornyn stated he will vote for Paxton in the November election, despite Paxton facing ethics scandals, including impeachment by the Texas House on corruption charges, from which he was later acquitted. Cornyn is one of two GOP incumbents who were defeated in the primaries this year, both facing candidates endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The choice of Dallas for the convention is significant, considering past Democratic efforts to gain ground in Texas, a state typically viewed as Republican stronghold. Current polls indicate a competitive race against Democratic state Representative James Talarico with Paxton as the nominee.