‘Paxton is going to win easily’: Megyn Kelly rejects Cook report on Texas race

WASHINGTON, DC: Megyn Kelly, a political commentator who frequently criticizes President Donald Trump on several fronts, forcefully rejected the Cook Political Report’s warning about the Texas Senate race, insisting Ken Paxton still has a firm grip on Trump-aligned voters and predicting the Republican attorney general would “win easily” despite growing concerns about his vulnerabilities.

Kelly’s comments came after the nonpartisan election handicapper shifted the race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” following Paxton’s GOP runoff victory over Sen John Cornyn, a race boosted by President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Megyn Kelly rejects Cook Political Report warning

On her show, Kelly framed the race less as a toss-up and more as a disconnect between national political analysts and the voters she believes dominate Texas politics.

“These are diehard red, white, and blue Americans who will never vote for someone who says they’re six genders,” Kelly said on her show, while dismissing Democratic chances in the state. “Hell no, they’re not going to, and in fact, whatever they think about Paxton, this will make them get off their couches and make sure that this ridiculous person doesn’t win.”

Kelly then directly challenged the Cook Political Report’s latest assessment, turning the debate into a credibility clash over who better understands Texas voters.

“I’m going out, I’m saying it on the record, it’s not going to happen,” she said. “I think I think Paxton is going to win. He’s going to win easily.”

The conservative commentator also pushed back hard against the report’s decision to downgrade the GOP’s standing in the race after Paxton secured the nomination.

“I don’t think Cook Political Report is right to move this race now that Paxton is the nominee from likely Republican to just leans republican with a warning that they might be moving it to toss up, depending on how things go,” Kelly said.

The Cook Political Report argued Paxton’s controversies could create an opening for Democrats in a state Republicans have long controlled. Senate and governors editor Jessica Taylor wrote that Paxton carries “a litany of ethical lapses for Democrats to exploit,” including allegations tied to bribery, misuse of office, and personal scandals.

Taylor also warned that Democratic candidate James Talarico currently holds a fundraising advantage and argued Paxton’s “flaws warrant an immediate move to the Lean column.”

Still, the report acknowledged the steep challenge Democrats face in Texas, noting that undecided voters may hesitate to “hand over the keys to the Senate to Democrats.”

Texas voters at center of clash

Kelly repeatedly argued that national analysts were underestimating the cultural and political instincts of Texas conservatives, especially Trump supporters energized by Paxton’s candidacy.

“You may know political races, but I know Texas,” Kelly said while directly addressing Cook Political Report. “I just, I know that state, and I know the voters down there.”

She ended her remarks with an emphatic dismissal of Democratic chances in the race, saying, “It’s just no f------ way. Are they gonna vote for this guy?”