The National Republican Senatorial Committee will fundraise for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to campaign finance paperwork filed Monday, the clearest indication yet that national Republicans are rallying behind their controversial GOP nominee.
Paxton filed paperwork on Monday for a joint fundraising committee with the NRSC. A person familiar with the committee’s thinking who was granted anonymity to describe internal decisionmaking told POLITICO the GOP’s Senate campaign arm will also work with Paxton on digital fundraising and direct mail.
The committee is giving Paxton “the same treatment we give all of our candidates and incumbents,” the person said.
The moves come after the NRSC and its staff — which supported incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the primary — wiped its social media of anti-Paxton material after last week’s runoff.
During the primary, the NRSC repeatedly attacked Paxton for his past scandals in an effort to boost Cornyn, at one point calling Cornyn the “only one Republican that can beat” a Democrat in the state. That post has since been deleted.
Paxton has so far struggled to match the fundraising prowess of Democratic nominee James Talarico, and the NRSC’s ability to help fundraise could offset the costs of what looks to be an incredibly expensive general election.
Senate Republican leadership is increasingly embracing Paxton now that he is their nominee. Senate Majority Leader John Thune will meet with Paxton this week, Paxton told Fox News on Sunday.
“Ken Paxton is our nominee heading into November, and we got to pivot and go all in to make sure that we keep Texas red, that he wins, and that we keep a far-left liberal out of the United States Senate,” Thune told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt last week.
NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) also backed Paxton after last week’s runoff.
“There’s been no better warrior for our party than John Cornyn. I was blessed to have served with him and I look forward to his continued fight for our great country,” Scott said on X. “But now I stand united with President Trump, Ken Paxton, and Texans who want to protect our Republican Majority.”
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