$128 Million Battle: Will Trump Pick a Side?

Texas flag waving in a field of bluebonnet flowers during sunset

A pro-Paxton super PAC is reportedly running television ads in Florida’s Mar-a-Lago area, signaling an unprecedented strategy to influence one man—President Trump—in what has become the most expensive Senate primary in American history.

Story Snapshot

Super PAC supporting Ken Paxton targets Mar-a-Lago TV market to reach Trump and secure crucial endorsement
Texas Senate GOP primary between Paxton and Cornyn has shattered spending records at $128 million with no clear winner
Race represents MAGA movement versus Republican establishment, potentially determining Senate majority control
Paxton leads in polls but faces electability concerns while Cornyn warns opponent’s baggage risks flipping seat to Democrats

Super PAC Targets Trump’s Backyard in Unusual Campaign Strategy

Reports indicate a super PAC aligned with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton aired television advertisements in the Palm Beach, Florida area, home to President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. This extraordinary move demonstrates how desperately both campaigns seek Trump’s endorsement in a primary that has devolved into political warfare. The strategy reflects Paxton’s positioning as the true MAGA champion against incumbent Senator John Cornyn, whom supporters paint as a country club Republican masquerading as a Trump ally despite voting with the President 99 percent of the time.

Record-Breaking Primary Exposes Deep GOP Divisions

The Texas Senate race has consumed over $128 million in spending, establishing it as the costliest Senate primary in American history. Cornyn’s super PAC, Texans for Conservative Majority, has deployed approximately $100 million in attack advertisements against Paxton, hiring Trump’s former strategists Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio in a desperate attempt to shore up MAGA credentials. Meanwhile, Paxton formed two new fundraising vehicles on March 4, 2026—the Texas First Leadership PAC and Ken Paxton Victory Fund—signaling the fight will intensify as primary day approaches with no candidate polling above 50 percent.

Paxton’s MAGA Credentials Versus Electability Concerns

Paxton has positioned himself as the authentic conservative fighter, pointing to his lawsuits against the Obama and Biden administrations while serving as Texas Attorney General since 2015. His campaign emphasizes three statewide electoral victories as proof of electability. However, Cornyn’s camp aggressively highlights Paxton’s substantial baggage: a near-impeachment in 2023, fraud settlements, and personal scandals that Republicans fear could hand Democrats an unexpected victory in deep-red Texas. This tension between ideological purity and pragmatic concerns about keeping the seat Republican reflects the broader struggle within the GOP between MAGA insurgents and establishment voices.

Senate Majority Hangs in Balance as May Runoff Looms

With polls showing Paxton leading but no candidate approaching the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff, Texas Republicans face the prospect of an extended primary battle stretching into May. Democrats are watching gleefully as the bloodbath consumes Republican resources and energy, with candidates like James Talarico positioning to exploit GOP divisions in the general election. The seat could prove decisive in maintaining Republican Senate control, making President Trump’s potential endorsement extraordinarily consequential. Cornyn argues that nominating the scandal-plagued Paxton jeopardizes not just this seat but Trump’s entire legislative agenda, while Paxton supporters counter that Cornyn’s attacks only benefit Democrats.

Target Audience of One: Super PAC Supporting Paxton in Texas Senate Race Runs TV Ad in Mar-a-Lago Area https://t.co/SErAFQxoDQ

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) March 14, 2026

The race has attracted massive dark money contributions funneled through organizations like Preserve Texas Inc., which donated $250,000 to pro-Paxton efforts, while Cornyn secured $2.9 million from major donor John Nau. As the primary approaches, both campaigns continue saturating Texas airwaves with attack ads while simultaneously courting Trump, whose endorsement remains the prize both desperately seek but neither has secured. The outcome will send shockwaves through Republican politics nationwide, either validating the MAGA movement’s primary challenge strategy or demonstrating the limits of insurgent candidates carrying significant personal controversies.