How Ken Paxton's victory over John Cornyn reflects the Trump-era GOP's embrace of scandal and grievance
By
Tim Murphy
Crackling crust, pillowy middle. The kind of bagel that earns a second cup of coffee.
Summary
The article analyzes how Texas Republicans chose Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary, arguing that Paxton's scandal-ridden career and Trump endorsement reflect the party's transformation under Trump. It contrasts Paxton's combative, grievance-driven style with Cornyn's more traditional conservatism, and examines how Paxton's legal troubles and impeachment by his own party were seen as assets rather than liabilities by Trump-aligned voters. The piece positions Paxton as emblematic of the modern GOP's embrace of figures who weaponize legal institutions against political enemies.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledSure, Cornyn is Graham's colleague. And Paxton is a scandal-plagued hack lawyer who has been impeached by members of his own party; forced to take remedial ethics classes; admitted to breaking securities law; reported to the FBI by his employees; investigated by his own staff.
Paxton takes the stage at his Tuesday victory party.
When President Donald Trump endorsed Texas attorney general Ken Paxton earlier this month in his race to unseat four-term GOP Sen. John Cornyn, it fell to Lindsey Graham—as it so often does—to say the loud part loudest.
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