Staff Reports
Senator John Cornyn’s latest social‑media move is small but telling: he boosted a Houston Public Media interview with Libertarian nominee Ted Brown — days after losing the Republican runoff to Attorney General Ken Paxton. It’s the sort of petty, public nudge that signals more than a sore ego. It raises real questions about whether the GOP in Texas will come together for the general election or keep handing wins to the left by airing its dirty laundry in public.
Cornyn’s post-loss push: a strange message to voters
Senator John Cornyn says he will “support the Republican ticket,” and yet he’s been clear he won’t cozy up to Attorney General Ken Paxton or stop criticizing him. Then he posts an interview promoting the Libertarian nominee, Ted Brown, who openly courts “disaffected conservative voters.” That’s a strange look for a sitting senator who just lost a primary runoff. You don’t get to pledge loyalty while amplifying a candidate who wants to siphon your voters. It reads like signaling, not reconciliation.
Why Ted Brown matters — and why Cornyn should stop playing with fire
Ted Brown isn’t dreaming small. He’s on the ballot and polling at levels that matter in a tight statewide race. Brown even tossed a line that’ll make headlines: “Frankly, you can’t spoil something that’s rotten and putrid to begin with.” Charming. If conservative turnout slips or some voters defect to the Libertarian option, the result could help the Democratic nominee, State Representative James Talarico. When a major GOP figure boosts coverage of a third‑party challenger, it invites the exact split the left hopes for.
What this intra‑party feud could cost Republican voters
Attorney General Ken Paxton is a controversial nominee; Senator Cornyn said so during the campaign. Fair enough. But once the primary is over, the alternative is clear: either close ranks for the general or watch the opposition reap the reward. Cornyn’s choice to publicly boost Brown’s media moment while insisting he “supports the ticket” is political theater with real consequences. If Republicans want to keep that Senate seat, they need fewer headlines and more votes — and that means directing energy toward turnout, not Twitter subtweets.
A simple ask for Texas conservatives
Texas conservatives don’t need side shows. We need discipline, message, and turnout. If Senator Cornyn has real concerns about electability or ethics, make them quietly and help repair the coalition. And if you’re a voter tempted to sit out or chase a protest vote, remember who benefits from a split on the right. This race is winnable, but only if Republicans stop treating November like round two of the primary. Time to choose: political therapy on social media, or winning the Senate seat back from the left.
