Two Republican Lawmakers Shift Support to Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Race Two Republican members of the Texas House, Matt Shaheen of Prosper and Jeff Leach of Allen, have publicly endorsed Ken Paxton in his bid for the U.S. Senate, marking a significant shift from their earlier support for incumbent John Cornyn. The lawmakers, who had previously clashed with Paxton and backed Cornyn in the 2022 election, now assert that Republican voters have clearly favored Paxton in the primary race against Democratic State Representative James Talarico. Their statements reflect a broader realignment within the state’s Republican establishment as the November election approaches. Shaheen and Leach, both from Collin County—Paxton’s home district—highlighted their commitment to mobilizing the Republican base to secure Paxton’s victory. Shaheen emphasized that Paxton’s overwhelming primary win demonstrated his ability to energize voters, stating, “He won overwhelmingly in the primary. We need to motivate our base, make sure that the Republican base gets out.” Leach echoed this sentiment, noting that while primaries are a time for internal party debates, “once the slate is chosen, it’s incumbent upon us and for all Republicans to get out and support the ticket from the top to the bottom.” The lawmakers’ support for Paxton comes despite their role in the 2023 impeachment proceedings against the attorney general. Shaheen and Leach were among the 60 House Republicans who voted to impeach Paxton, with Leach serving as an impeachment manager during his Senate trial. Paxton was acquitted on all charges and denied any wrongdoing, leading to a contentious primary campaign where he targeted Shaheen and Leach.#john_cornyn #ken_paxton #james_talarico #matt_shaheen #jeff_leach
