Latest news with #Cornyn
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
A Joe Rogan-Backed Democrat: James Talarico Draws National Attention
This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIME's politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. Over the weekend, a lot of institutional Washington suddenly and enthusiastically discovered James Talarico, a seminary student and member of the Texas state House. The find came during an impressive outing for the 36-year-old Democrat on Joe Rogan's podcast in which the aspiring preacher espoused the same brand of sharp sound bytes that has earned him almost a million TikTok followers. Over more than two hours, Talarico explained to Rogan why a Texas law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is 'un-Christian,' the coming political fights won't be about Left or Right but rather the top and the bottom of society, and how both parties get it wrong when they treat politicians like Messianic figures. 'James Talarico, you need to run for President,' Rogan said. 'We need someone who is actually a good person.' Still, Talarico's sudden place in the imagination of D.C.'s elites is not entirely unwarranted. He is seen as a dark-horse candidate to challenge Sen. John Cornyn's already dicey re-election bid in Texas, where a scandal-soaked Attorney General Ken Paxton may plausibly land a Trump endorsement for his primary challenge. Paxton is ahead in polling and is better-liked among Texas' MAGA base, but Cornyn, who's held his seat since 2002 and is still a power center in the Upper Chamber, is seen as a stronger candidate in the general election. Their fight to the March primary is already getting ugly, as Paxton's wife has recently filed for divorce 'on biblical grounds,' which Cornyn cited to The Washington Post as news that 'is going to tell a lot of people that there was more fire there where there was smoke.' Talarico might have some steps between his desk in Austin and the Resolute Desk, to be sure. Few have seen an ascent that clear-cut, although Barack Obama went from the Illinois state Senate to a national ticket in a harried four years. And the excitement the Texan is drawing might say more about the anemic state of the Democratic Party than Talarico's national prospects. There is a deep reservoir of talent on the Democratic side in the Lone Star State, many of whom are champing at the bit to face a potentially bruised GOP nominee at the top of the 2026 ticket. Former Rep. Colin Allred, who lost a bid for Senate last year against incumbent Ted Cruz, said he is racing next year for the seat against Cornyn. Rep. Joaquin Castro, too, is in the mix for the race. And former Rep. Beto O'Rourke on Sunday said he was undecided on running for the Democratic nomination himself; he unsuccessfully ran for Senator in 2018, President in 2020, and Governor in 2022. 'I'm very optimistic about Democrats' opportunity in 2026,' O'Rourke said on CNN's 'State of the Union.' Still, let's zoom out for a minute. For close to two decades, we've been just one election away from Texas turning blue. The last time a Democrat won statewide in Texas was 1994—a year before Windows 95 hit the market. Texas is in a record dry spell, and there's no point pretending otherwise. O'Rourke is high-water mark in recent memory, and he captured 48% of the vote in his 2018 campaign. He raised $80 million and impressed even those of us who went to Texas that October with plans to slag him. And, to his credit, Cornyn is a far less divisive figure than O'Rourke's rival in 2018, Sen. Ted Cruz. To his credit, Talarico sounds a whole lot different than the partisan Democrats or Republicans here in Washington. 'I think we need to start listening to Democrats who are in red and purple areas. There is something about living in a red state that makes you different from a national Democrat who lives in a blue city on the coast. I think we learn how to talk with people outside of our party in a more effective way, because it's a matter of political survival out here,' Talarico told Rogan. 'I can't pass anything in the Texas Legislature without getting Republican support, so I've had to find ways to build relationships and build bridges across partisan divides as a Texas Democrat.' Keep in mind, he is making these comments as national Democrats are weighing their own post-2024 reckoning. According to reporting over the weekend from The New York Times, their autopsy of the Joe Biden-turned-Kamala Harris Democratic ticket last year will avoid any real accounting for Biden's decision to run or any real choices Harris made. Instead, the focus of the still-being-written report is on outside allied groups' choices, a move that kind of avoids the point and spares the party and real accountability. Talarico might be able to put some distance between himself and national Democrats without too much effort. His studies of theology are not natural fits in the secular Democratic identity of late. His fluency on digital platforms may mesh neatly with a relatively younger cohort of Democrats who finally seem to be meeting voters where they are on social platforms while the Old Guard clings to a playbook from the 1990s rooted in buying television ads and postcards. And Talarico is so far outside the splash zone of partisan Washington that he might just be able to stand unstained by the ugliness of this town. Still, that so many Democrats spent the weekend obsessing over a relatively unknown figure in Austin, who represents about 200,000 people in a deep-blue district, shows the extent of their desperation. They failed to stop Trump's hugely unpopular tax- and spending-cuts package. They are heading into an August recess with an unhappy base and little to show for a completely shut-out-of-power reality. The midterms should be ripe for Democratic gains but the party has no one at the helm calling the shots. And there won't be a viable leader until Democrats pick a presidential nominee for 2028. Given the uncertainty drifting toward that moment, Talarico is just as plausible as anyone—blessed by a podcaster who helped Trump win the White House and the manosphere last year. It's long odds, but Democrats don't exactly have a guide to firmer ground in the offing. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cornyn says he's spoken to Trump about a potential endorsement: 'If he endorsed me, the race would be over'
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas — who is up for re-election next year and facing a primary challenge from Lone Star State Attorney General Ken Paxton — told NBC News that he has spoken to President Donald Trump about a potential endorsement. "I've talked to him about it a number of times. He is not ready to make that endorsement," Cornyn told the outlet. "I think as we start advertising and closing the gap in the polls, hopefully he'll see fit to make that endorsement, but we can't wait." "I pointed out to him, and he knows this, that if he endorsed me, the race would be over," the senator noted, according to the outlet. FIRST ON FOX: RED STATE INVESTIGATING M&MS AND SKITTLES MANUFACTURER FOR 'DECEPTIVE' PRACTICES Cornyn has spent more than two decades in the Senate — prior to taking office in late 2002, he served as Texas attorney general, the post that Paxton currently occupies. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Cornyn campaign senior adviser Matt Mackowiak said that "President Trump's endorsement is the most powerful endorsement in the modern history of the Republican Party." Read On The Fox News App John Cornyn Scores Tim Scott Endorsement, But John Rich Calls Cornyn 'The Lindsey Graham Of Texas' "Senator Cornyn and President Trump are good friends and close allies and Senator Cornyn is proud to have voted with President Trump 99.2% of the time while he has been in office. We respect that the President will take his time to make a decision and in the meantime we are focused on running a first rate, winning campaign, as Senator Cornyn always has." Fox News Digital also reached out to the White House and to Paxton's campaign for comment. 'Sacred Covenant' – How The Paxton Divorce Rocks The Bruising Republican Senate Primary In Texas Paxton's wife, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, a Republican, declared in social media posts last week that "after 38 years of marriage" she "filed for divorce on biblical grounds."Original article source: Cornyn says he's spoken to Trump about a potential endorsement: 'If he endorsed me, the race would be over'
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Cook Political Report moves Texas Senate race to ‘likely Republican'
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report changed its rating of the 2026 Texas Senate race from 'solid Republican' to 'likely Republican' this week as the contentious GOP primary between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and state Attorney General Ken Paxton rages on. The ratings change comes as polls consistently show Paxton leading Cornyn in the Republican primary. However, in hypothetical general election polling, Paxton appears more vulnerable against Democrats than Cornyn does as a hypothetical nominee. The dynamic has made Democrats more hopeful about their chances in the Lone Star State, which has not seen a Democrat win statewide since 1994. Last month, the Texas Majority PAC and the Texas Democratic Party launched an eight-figure campaign dubbed 'Blue Texas' on Monday aimed at electing Democrats up and down the ballot. 2024 Election Coverage Former Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who lost his challenge against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) last year, has jumped into the Democratic primary along with retired NASA astronaut and Air Force pilot Terry Virts. President Trump has held off on endorsing in the intraparty contest. Paxton and Cornyn are both considered allies of the president. Cornyn told NBC News earlier this week that Trump has told him he is not ready to endorse in the race. 'I've talked to him about it a number of times. He is not ready to make that endorsement,' the senator told the network. 'I think as we start advertising and closing the gap in the polls, hopefully he'll see fit to make that endorsement, but we can't wait,' he continued. 'I pointed out to him, and he knows this, that if he endorsed me, the race would be over.'
NBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Five takeaways from the latest campaign fundraising reports: Totals raise questions about two key senators
Fundraising reports filed Tuesday shed new light on the battle for control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, with some shows of strength and some warning signs for lawmakers facing tough races. Republicans are defending the slimmest of majorities in the House and a majority in the Senate next year, and GOP candidates have struggled to compete with Democratic fundraising in recent election cycles. The fundraising reports highlight candidates who are starting to prepare for competitive races and others who may be lagging. The most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission cover money raised and spent from April through June. Here are five takeaways from the latest reports: Cornyn and Ernst stay in the spotlight Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has been facing questions over whether he will be able to overcome a challenge from his right flank by state GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton. And while the new reports show Cornyn's entire political operation brought in a significant haul, the report won't necessarily quiet concerns about his ability to push back a challenger. Comparing direct fundraising into the two candidates' official campaigns, Paxton outraised Cornyn $2.9 million to $804,000. It was the second-lowest quarterly haul from Cornyn's campaign across 2013-2014, 2019-2020 and the current election cycle — the recent times that Cornyn has been preparing to defend his seat. Cornyn also fundraised into another group supporting his campaign: a joint fundraising committee that brought in $3.1 million. Much of that money can be used in support of Cornyn's bid, but not all can be directly transferred to his campaign. Cornyn closed June with $5.9 million in his campaign account, compared to Paxton's $2.5 million. Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst's haul is notable, too. She hasn't officially announced she's running for another term, though she did bring on a campaign manager. Still, there has been speculation about whether she could decide to retire. She raised $722,000 last quarter — lower than any quarter during her 2020 bid. Two of Ernst's possible Democratic opponents fundraised just below her total haul for the quarter. She still holds a significant cash-on-hand advantage over her possible Democratic opponents, with $3.4 million in her account. The most vulnerable Senate incumbents amass war chests Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins are the two most vulnerable incumbent Senators on the map next year. And they spent last month fundraising like it. Ossoff, the only Democratic senator running for re-election in a state President Donald Trump carried in 2024, continues to print money, following up an $11.2 million first fundraising quarter with a $10 million second quarter, ending June with a whopping $15.5 million on hand. While the GOP primary race to take him on next fall is still materializing, only Rep. Buddy Carter raised a seven-figure sum, $3 million after a $2 million loan from the candidate. Collins, the only Republican senator defending a state former Vice President Kamala Harris won last year, posted a strong fundraising haul for her much-smaller state: $2.4 million. Her top Democratic opponent so far, former congressional aide Jordan Wood, raised $1.6 million, which included a $250,000 candidate loan. The latest fundraising reports also shed light on hotly contested primaries in key Senate battlegrounds. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters' decision not to run for re-election in Michigan has led to a contested Democratic primary, with Rep. Haley Stevens leading the primary field with a $2.8 million haul, though that included a $1.5 million transfer from her House campaign. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow raised $2.1 million, former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed raised $1.8 million, and former state House Speaker Joe Tate raised $192,000. Stevens ended the quarter with more cash on hand than her primary opponents, banking nearly $2 million. Former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers' campaign raised $745,000 and ended the quarter with $1.1 million on hand. The Rogers campaign also touted $779,000 raised by the candidate's joint fundraising committee, which is tied to the campaign, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, another Rogers PAC and a super PAC. The joint fundraising committee ended the quarter with $770,000 on hand. Rogers, who is running for Senate again after losing a close race last year, could face a primary despite having endorsements from the NRSC and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Rep. Bill Huizenga has also been weighing a Senate run and his campaign raised $747,000 in the second quarter. A Democratic primary is also underway in Minnesota, a potentially competitive state where Democratic Sen. Tina Smith is retiring. Rep. Angie Craig outraised Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan by pulling in nearly $2.5 million, including more than $600,000 from her House campaign, and ending the quarter with $1.8 million on hand. Flanagan raised $917,000 and banked away $783,000. Royce White, the only Republican in the race so far, raised just $125,000. Republicans have a contested primary to take on Ossoff in Georgia, where Carter led the GOP field in fundraising thanks in part to his sizable loan. Insurance Commissioner John King raised $518,000 and ended the quarter with $450,000 on hand. Millions pour into safe-seat primaries Then there are the handful of Senate primaries that will likely decide who heads to Washington in 2027 because the states overwhelmingly support Republicans or Democrats. The most consequential may be Louisiana, where Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy's political career is on the line amid a challenge from the conservative wing of his party. The incumbent raised $1.6 million and closed June with $8.7 million banked away. His main primary opponent, state Treasurer John Fleming, loaned himself $2 million and raised another $115,000 from individuals. State Sen. Blake Miguez loaned himself $1 million and raised another $800,000 from individuals. Then there are two open seats — one in red Kentucky to replace the retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell and another in blue Illinois to replace the retiring Sen. Richard Durbin. GOP Rep. Andy Barr flexed his fundraising muscles last quarter, raising $1.4 million and ending with more than $6 million banked away. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron raised under $400,000 with about $500,000 in cash on hand, while businessman Nate Morris, who is also running, announced his campaign after the books closed. The Democratic race to replace Durbin is shaping up to be expensive, with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi reporting a $12.7 million haul (including $10 million in transfers from his flush House campaign). The congressman has also already hit the airwaves, launching a TV ad this week. Rep. Robin Kelly raised nearly $2.5 million (mostly a transfer from her House campaign) and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton raised nearly $1.1 million. House lawmakers prepare for fights ahead The battle for the House is also continuing to take shape, with Democrats looking to net three seats to take control of the chamber. And lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are filling their campaign coffers ahead of tough races. Of the 38 incumbents in races rated as 'toss-ups' or only 'leaning' to one party or the other by the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, seven GOP House members and one Democrat raised more than $1 million. Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., led the pack with more than $2 million raised in the quarter, followed by Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., with a $1.6 million haul. Other lawmakers in competitive districts with million-dollar quarters include GOP Reps. Mike Lawler of New York, Ken Calvert of California, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, Derek Van Orden of Wisconsin, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Tom Barrett of Michigan. Only a few incumbents in the most competitive races on the map were outraised a challenger, but they did so thanks to personal loans to their campaign. Arizona Democrat Jonathan Treble raised $1 million to GOP Rep. David Schweikert's $740,000, but the Democrat contributed about $672,000 of his own money. Democratic Reps. Don Davis of North Carolina and Susie Lee of Nevada were also outraised by challengers who are using their own money — in North Carolina, Republican Sandy Roberson raised $2.3 million to Davis' $700,000 and in Nevada, Republican Marty O'Donnell raised $3 million. Roberson loaned his campaign $2 million and O'Donnell loaned his $3 million. Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who is facing a federal indictment, had the opposite dynamic. His $460,000 quarter outpaced his opponents, but that's only because he loaned his campaign $200,000.
The Hill
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
5 takeaways from the latest campaign finance reports
The latest campaign filings released this week are beginning to illustrate the contours of several highly watched Senate races while also raising questions about whether some members of Congress might seek retirement. Candidates were required to file their federal campaign reports from the second quarter of this year, which spans between April and June, by Tuesday. Political groups and parties who report semi-annually have until the end of the month to report their sums. Here are 5 takeaways from the latest fundraising quarter: Cornyn, Cassidy stay competitive despite GOP primary challengers Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who are both facing primary challengers from their right, have been able to stay competitive in fundraising despite questions around how at risk they are of losing their primaries next year. While Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) technically raised more from his principal campaign than Cornyn — Paxton raked in $2.9 million, while Cornyn's campaign raked in roughly $803,000, Cornyn enjoys an overhaul of close to $4 million between his principal campaign committee and joint fundraising committee. Overall, only $2.7 million from Cornyn's political operation can go him, given some of the money raised from his joint fundraising committee exceeds what can be doled out to a campaign, according to The Texas Tribune. Cornyn's allies are also ramping up their fundraising efforts, too. Texans for a Conservative Majority, a pro-Cornyn super PAC, raked in close to $11 million in the second quarter, according to Politico. Meanwhile, the pro-Paxton group Lone Star Liberty PAC hauled in $1.85 million, according to the Tribune. Over in Louisiana, Cassidy raised $1.6 million from his principal campaign committee, while Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming's campaign reported raising $2.1 million, which includes a $2 million self-loan. State Sen. Blake Miguez, who has also announced a run against Cassidy, reported $1.8 million for the quarter, including a self-loan of $1 million. But between Cassidy's campaign and associated joint fundraising committees, his team said he's raised $2.1 million in total for the quarter. Cassidy also ends the quarter with nearly $9 million in the bank. Some numbers raise speculation over potential retirements Several lawmakers' fundraising hauls are driving speculation that they could be retiring from Congress soon. In the House, 88-year-old D.C. Democratic Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton — who's said she intends to run again, while her team has walked back that sentiment — raised $45,000 in the second quarter, including loaning herself $40,000. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), 83, who has not formally declared whether he's running for another term, raised about $46,000 between April and June, though he has about $115,000 in the bank. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), who is under federal investigation over what the congressman said was his campaign finances, according to The Tennessean, raised about $53,000. Ogles has not been charged with any wrongdoing. However, while these sums are lower than usual, that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't seeking reelection. Michigan's McMorrow crushes rivals in fundraising Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who's running for the open Senate seat in the Great Lakes State, outraised her two Democratic challengers and GOP Senate contender Mike Rogers. While Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) raked in $2.8 million in the latest quarter of fundraising, that included $1.5 million that she transferred from her House campaign committee to her Senate one, meaning she raised $1.3 million herself between April and June. McMorrow raised $2.1 million in the latest quarter while former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed raised close to $1.8 million. Rogers raised $745,000 from his principal campaign committee; his political operation brought in $1.5 million altogether between his campaign and joint fundraising committee. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), who's considering his own bid for Michigan Senate, about $746,000 in the last reporting period. Progressives, potential 2028 hopefuls raking in high sums While progressive stars may not be raking in the same sums that they were last quarter, they're still touting some pretty high numbers. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) brought in $4.5 million, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) raked in $5.8 million. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), a rising star within the party, reported $2.1 million last quarter and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) reported close to $2.5 million. Both Khanna and Ocasio-Cortez have been floated as potential 2028 runners on the Democratic side. Other 2028 challengers like Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), more of a mainstream Democrat, have also reported high sums. Booker's campaign reported $9.6 million raised, including $1.5 million in transfers. Vulnerable House Republicans post strong numbers While Republicans are bracing for an unfavorable political environment as they contend with historical midterm headwinds, vulnerable House GOP incumbents are still posting high dollars compared to vulnerable House Democrats. Only one House Democrat from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's (DCCC) 'Frontline' members group cracked more than $1 million in fundraising, according the National Journal's compilation of fundraising figures between DCCC 'Frontline' members and House Republicans' 'Patriots': Rep. Eugene Vidman (D-Va.) brought in $1.6 million. Meanwhile, eight National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) 'Patriot' members raised over $1 million. Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), who represents a 'lean Republican' seat in California, raised $2 million. The fundraising will be key for Republicans who contending with likely losing seats next year.
