Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) argued that Democrats are becoming increasingly more competitive in Texas, hours after President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate runoff over Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
“Look, Texas is a huge mess for the Republicans,” Schumer said at the Senate Democratic Leaders News Conference when asked whether Democrats’ chances of winning in the Lone Star State had improved.
“I believe that we’re in much better shape taking back Texas than we were a few days ago, and I think we’re gonna win Texas,” he added.
Schumer’s remarks come as Republicans face growing intraparty tensions between Cornyn and Paxton whose looming Senate runoff has exposed fractures within the GOP ahead of a high-stakes election cycle. Trump endorsed Paxton on Tuesday, one week ahead of the May 26 runoff.
When asked whether national Democrats would be willing to spend heavily in Texas, where statewide campaigns can cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Schumer suggested Democrats believe the political environment is shifting in their favor.
Recent polling from RealClearPolitics suggests the race remains highly competitive, with Paxton leading Cornyn among likely Republican voters.
DOES JAMES TALARICO HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO FLIP THE TEXAS SENATE SEAT?
“As you say, Talarico is talking to people about their real needs,” Schumer said, referencing Texas Democrats’ nominee, state Rep. James Talarico. “Paxton and Cornyn, both of those people are talking about things that Texans don’t care about, and so we are going to win Texas, and we are going to win Texas whether it’s Cornyn or Paxton.”
The comments underscore Democrats’ growing optimism about Texas despite the state’s long-standing Republican advantage. National Democrats have repeatedly targeted Texas in recent election cycles, though Republicans have continued to hold statewide offices.