By VICTORIA CHURCHILL, U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER ON CAPITOL HILL
Texas GOP Senator John Cornyn's already-embattled 2026 re-election bid appears to have just gotten tougher. He's facing allegations of doctoring a Trump endorsement and was hit with disappointing second quarter fundraising numbers. Cornyn raised just over $800,000 in the last three months according to Federal Elections Commission (FEC) data.
The Cornyn Victory Fund, which splits funds between Cornyn, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and leadership PACs, raised another $3.1 million. That's compared to his Trump ally primary challenger, fellow Republican Ken Paxton who raised $2.9 million and has $2.5 million cash on hand. Paxton's team seized on the opportunity to call Cornyn out for a perceived lack of support. They noted in a media release that the fundraising discrepancy between the two camps 'represents the massive enthusiasm in Texas to replace establishment insider John Cornyn with a conservative warrior like Ken Paxton.'
In a campaign press release issued Monday, Cornyn's team touted a haul of 'more than $3.9 million' with $8.9 million total cash on hand. For comparison, Senator Ted Cruz - who is not up for re-election until 2030 - raised $1.75 million in the second quarter. The latest fundraising hauls come as a pro-Cornyn PAC is also being accused of manipulating audio from a 2019 Trump rally to make it seem like the president recently endorsed the senator. The ad is scheduled to begin its run across Texas on Wednesday.
Trump ally and far-right activist Laura Loomer first circulated the accusations of Cornyn's PAC team doctoring footage. In Trump's 2019 rally footage, the President praises both Texas Senators, Cornyn and Cruz, for their work delivering on his agenda in Washington. In the allegedly doctored footage, the pro-Cornyn super PAC Texans for a Conservative Majority appears to have clipped the 's' from the end of Senators, as well the reference to Cruz during Trump's rally six years ago.
Texans for a Conservative Majority - which raised almost 11 million in the second quarter - is putting seven figures behind the ad which will run statewide. Axios reported in May that former Trump co-campaign manger Chris LaCivita is serving as senior adviser to the pro-Cornyn outside group. Trump himself has not yet issued an endorsement in the race.
Since 2019, Cornyn has cast several votes in which he has split from the majority of his GOP colleagues, adding to his RINO or Republican in name only accusations. Despite touting a voting record thats 99 percent in line with President Trump, conservative groups in Washington are no fans of Cornyn. Heritage Action, the grassroots arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation ranks Cornyn's votes in the current session of Congress as 35 percent aligned with their values. That number is barely half of his lifetime score of 64 percent.
Cornyn's rankings are also down with the American Conservative Union. Despite a lifetime score of nearly 87, his latest ranking from the group is 77. Less than two years after his 2020 election, in 2022, Cornyn was one of 15 GOP Senators who caved on the Second Amendment and sided with Democrats to deliver one of, if not the biggest, wins of President Biden's tenure, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Cornyn's choice to act in this manner was undoubtedly due to public pressure in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting tragedy which happened in his state. Yet, his fellow Texas Senator Ted Cruz didn't cave to the anti-gun mob.
Cornyn's political advisor did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment about his fundraising numbers, or the allegedly doctored ad. Despite his sizable recent fundraising haul, Paxton's running in the primary as far from a perfect candidate. He was impeached in 2023 due to claims he hired a woman with whom he had an affair him.
Paxton's wife, Texas State Senator Angela Paxton announced last Thursday that she was filing for divorce from her husband, and that 'in light of recent discoveries' is was not within the best interests of their family for her to remain in the marriage. Although she attended her then-husband's impeachment trial, Angela did not vote on the outcome. He was acquitted by the senate. On top of infidelity in his marriage, Paxton has also been accused of corruption on several occasions. He has never been convicted of a crime.
The winner of the GOP primary next March will face off against the Democrat nominee who is also yet to be determined. Polling released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) earlier this month showed Democrat Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett leading a hypothetical Democratic primary with 35 percent of likely voters, followed by former Rep. Colin Allred at 20 percent. In a recent interview with liberal comedian and media personality Hasan Minhaj, Crockett noted that she already has her 'expiration date in mind for the House,' adding that she already has 'been eyeing people to replace' her.
Failed Democrat candidate for both U.S. President and U.S. Senate Beto O'Rourke, and Rep. Joaquin Castro tied at 13 percent. Only 18 percent remain undecided about who should challenge Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term. Crockett has made headlines numerous times in recent months as a key critic of the Trump administration.