Cornyn raises $4M in second quarter, surpassing Texas Senate rival Paxton

Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) reelection campaign announced Monday that he raised more than $3.9 million in the second quarter of the year, surpassing the sum raised by his top primary rival.

The haul includes money raised from Cornyn’s campaign and associated Cornyn Victory Fund. The fourth-term senator enters the third quarter of the year with $8.9 million cash on hand. 

Cornyn’s announced fundraising haul comes days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, his challenger in the Republican primary, announced his campaign raised $2.9 million during the same period. 

“We are confident that we are on track to have the necessary resources to communicate to Texas GOP primary voters about Senator Cornyn’s conservative record and provide facts about Ken Paxton’s repeated mismanagement of his office, ethical failures and funding of radical left wing groups with taxpayer grants,” Cornyn campaign manager Andy Hemming said.

The incumbent is facing arguably the toughest fight of his political career, as most polls show Paxton leading him in the primary, which is slated for early March.

However, the prospect of the state attorney general as the nominee has made many Republicans anxious and Democrats hopeful, with polls showing a narrow general election with Paxton as the hypothetical Republican option. 

A source told The Hill last week that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who is supporting Cornyn, met with President Trump on Wednesday evening to discuss upcoming Senate races, including the Lone Star State’s.

It’s unclear whether Trump, who is an ally of both Cornyn and Paxton, will endorse in the race.