Brad Todd calls Trump's Ken Paxton endorsement a '$100 million mistake' for GOP in Texas
GOP strategist Brad Todd on TX Senate race: "I think the president made a $100 million mistake in picking Ken Paxton and urging Republican primary voters to vote for him. John Cornyn is a much more credible person," - @BradOnMessage. Panelists @RepYassAnsari @KBeds @DavidJUrban… pic.twitter.com/tZBtbaFNbm
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) May 31, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: GOP strategist Brad Todd called President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton a “100-million-dollar mistake” as Republicans raise fresh doubts about the party’s Senate chances in Texas.
Todd delivered the blunt warning during an appearance on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’. He argued Trump hurt Republicans by backing Paxton over longtime Sen John Cornyn in the race for the Texas Senate seat.
Brad Todd calls Ken Paxton 'a real lift'
“I think the president made a 100-million-dollar mistake in picking Ken Paxton and urging Republican primary voters to vote for him,” Todd said.
He then contrasted Paxton directly with Cornyn. “John Cornyn is a much more credible person,” Todd said. “He is a much more moral person, and he also was going to be a shoo-in.”
Todd added, “I think Ken Paxton is a real lift, and I think it was a mistake.”
His comments reinforced growing Republican anxiety over whether Paxton can hold the seat in November despite Trump’s backing.
Other strategists have reportedly echoed Todd’s concerns and warned the Texas AG could struggle in a statewide general election campaign.
GOP worries over Ken Paxton's controversies
Questions around Paxton’s personal controversies have continued to shadow the race.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which supported Cornyn during last week’s GOP runoff, previously highlighted Paxton’s separation from his ex-wife on “biblical grounds.”
The committee also pointed to accusations that Paxton and his wife used three different properties as their primary residences.
Posts attacking Paxton over alleged “lies” were later deleted after he became the Republican nominee.
Even some Trump allies have sounded cautious about the race.
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon said it would be “very tough” for the Texas attorney general to win statewide, though he added that a victory by “five-plus” remained possible.
Trump is sure about Ken Paxton's victory
Trump, however, has shown no hesitation in rallying behind Paxton.
The president already declared victory months before the November election and praised the attorney general in a Truth Social post after the GOP runoff.
He wrote that he and Cornyn would “watch Ken become a fantastic, common sense Senator, one who is respected by all.”
He also mocked Paxton’s Democratic opponent, State Rep James Talarico, writing, “His opponent, Alfred E. Neuman, may be the worst TEXAS candidate I have ever seen.”
