Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is issuing a stark warning to his fellow Republicans: stop the infighting or risk handing Democrats victories they don't deserve in the 2026 midterm elections.
Patrick's alarm bells are ringing as an expensive and bitter primary battle rages between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the state's U.S. Senate seat. The heated contest has Republicans pouring millions into attacking each other instead of preparing to defend against Democratic challengers.
"We're going to have a tough time holding the Texas House," Patrick warned, according to the Texas Tribune. His message is crystal clear: Republicans need to unite behind President Trump's America First agenda instead of tearing each other apart.
Establishment vs. America First
The Cornyn-Paxton runoff scheduled for May 26 represents a familiar battle between establishment Republicans and the MAGA movement. Paxton, who has been a fierce defender of election integrity and constitutional rights, represents the grassroots energy that swept Trump back into power. Meanwhile, Cornyn's establishment ties have made him a target for patriots who want fighters, not compromise artists.
But Patrick's concern isn't about picking sides – it's about winning. While Republicans savage each other in primaries, Democrats are quietly organizing and fundraising for what they hope will be a comeback opportunity in traditionally red Texas.
"Whoever loses the runoff election on May 26" needs to immediately rally behind the winner, Patrick emphasized, understanding that divided parties lose elections.
The Real Enemy
Patrick's warning should serve as a wake-up call to every conservative in Texas. The real threat isn't whether Cornyn or Paxton represents Republicans in the Senate – it's whether Democrats exploit GOP divisions to flip seats that should remain solidly red.
President Trump's decisive 2024 victory proved that Americans want strong conservative leadership, not the failed policies of the radical left. But victories mean nothing if Republicans hand them back through needless infighting.
Texas patriots need to ask themselves: Do they want to spend 2026 relitigating Republican primaries, or do they want to keep building on Trump's America First momentum? The choice – and the consequences – are clear.