Turning Point Action, the political advocacy wing of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), on Monday endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the senatorial Republican primary—and it sparked backlash online.
Newsweek reached out to Paxton’s campaign via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The flare-up comes as polling shows Paxton with a slight lead in the GOP primary and follows months of heightened attention on his candidacy, legal history and personal life, issues generating both criticism and support online.
The 2026 Texas Republican U.S. Senate primary has become a national proxy battle over the GOP’s direction, with Paxton running as a challenger to long-serving incumbent Senator John Cornyn and GOP Congressman Wesley Hunt.
What To Know
Taking to X on Monday, Paxton said, “BREAKING: I’m honored to be endorsed by Turning Point Action. The movement that Charlie Kirk built has inspired millions, and I’m proud to be standing alongside Turning Point Action in carrying on the fight to save this country and defend our freedoms.”
Mixed reaction followed online, with former Vice President Mike Pence’s Communications Director Jonah Wendt saying, “Charlie Kirk: ‘Get married. Have children. Build a legacy.’ Ken Paxton: ‘Cheat on your wife. Get divorced. Run for higher office.’”
Cornyn backer and lawyer Amy Miller responded to the news on X: “Ken Paxton screwed around on his wife at least 3 times, committed securities fraud, perjured himself, and spends his days sending out spurious pieces of collateral complaining about things outside his purview. But ok.”
Former Republican Representative Barbara Comstock of Virginia on X said, “Cheating on your wife and being impeached is apparently a plus for an endorsement from @TPUSA. Don’t let them tell you they care about character with their endorsement of this charlatan who had conservative lawyers in his office quit and testify against him in his impeachment.”
Recent polling by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs found Paxton leading Cornyn 38 percent to 31 percent among 550 likely Republican primary voters surveyed from January 20 to January 31, with Hunt at 17 percent and 12 percent undecided. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.18 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
David French, columnist for The New York Times and visiting professor of public policy at Lipscomb University, on X Monday: “Of course TPUSA would endorse the corrupt serial adulterer. Of course. That’s part of the story of the moment. Christian MAGA embraces corrupt politicians and then browbeats everyone else with ‘binary choice’ arguments after the primaries. An actual Christian movement would demonstrate moral hygiene in its own primaries rather than exerting herculean efforts on behalf of some of the worst people in American politics.”
Hunt, on X Sunday: “Let me be very clear: I am the strongest general election candidate in this race. From either party. Period. The dirty little secret the Cornyn protection racket won’t tell you? I beat every Democrat on the ballot. By MORE. Every. Single. Time. I outperform Cornyn. I outperform Paxton. That’s why they’re scared. That’s why the swamp is nervous. That’s why they’re attacking. Because I’m the Democrats’ worst nightmare. If I’m the nominee, this seat stays RED. If I’m the nominee, Texas wins.”
Anthony Kern, Republican candidate for Arizona State Senate, on X Monday: “C’mon Texas!! Vote @KenPaxtonTX for U.S. Senate!! @TPAction”
Cornyn, in part on X this month: “Proud to be Making America Great Again with @realDonaldTrump”
What Happens Next
Early voting in Texas begins February 17, with the Republican and Democratic primaries set for March 3.
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