Breaking: Ted Cruz Is Going All In for Ken Paxton

Ken Paxton entered the general election with one problem Republicans could not ignore:

Texas was suddenly competitive.

Now Sen. Ted Cruz is stepping directly into the fight.

Cruz remained neutral during the bitter Republican primary between Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn. But after Paxton won the nomination, that neutrality ended.

According to reporting originally published by Politico, Cruz has become one of Paxton’s most important political allies—introducing him to major donors, campaigning alongside him and serving as an informal adviser behind the scenes.

And the money is beginning to move.

Paxton raised approximately $18 million during the most recent quarter, with some contributions coming from first-time donors introduced through Cruz’s network. One person familiar with the relationship told Politico that Cruz has been repeatedly telling Texas donors they need to support Paxton.

Cruz Is Bringing More Than Money

The relationship is also helping Paxton reach audiences outside his traditional campaign operation.

When the U.S. Hispanic Business Council wanted Paxton to participate in a Senate town hall, its leadership turned to Cruz to help make the connection.

It worked.

Paxton attended.

That matters because the Texas race is increasingly about expanding beyond each party’s most loyal voters.

Cruz’s political infrastructure is already deeply connected to Paxton’s campaign. Axiom Strategies, the Republican consulting firm associated with Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign, has worked with both men, while Paxton senior adviser Nick Maddux previously played key roles in Cruz’s Senate campaigns.

Cruz’s allied super PAC has also entered the race. Earlier this year, Truth and Courage PAC announced more than $1.7 million in advertising targeting Talarico.

Texas Has Become a National Senate Fight

The reason for the urgency is simple.

Recent polling has repeatedly shown Paxton and Talarico separated by only a few points, while Democrats have poured money into a state Republicans have controlled statewide for decades.

Talarico has also demonstrated strong fundraising, forcing Republicans to treat Texas as a genuine battleground rather than a guaranteed hold.

Cruz understands what a close Texas Senate race looks like.

In 2018, he defeated Beto O’Rourke by just 2.6 percentage points.

Now he is applying that experience to Paxton’s campaign.

The final weeks will determine whether Cruz’s donors, political organization and campaign infrastructure can help Republicans consolidate their coalition—or whether Talarico’s fundraising and Democratic enthusiasm can overcome them.

Either way, Texas is no longer watching an ordinary Senate election.

It is becoming one of the most consequential races in the country.