Texas redistricting clash becomes another stage in the GOP's big Senate primary fight

As Texas Republicans battle with state House Democrats, who fled to block the GOP’s ability to pass new congressional maps, there’s an intraparty skirmish proceeding just as fiercely on the sidelines: the state’s contentious Republican Senate primary.Sen.

As Texas Republicans battle with state House Democrats, who fled to block the GOP’s ability to pass new congressional maps, there’s an intraparty skirmish proceeding just as fiercely on the sidelines: the state’s contentious Republican Senate primary.

Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is challenging Cornyn in a primary, have spent the last week making appeals to state and federal officials aimed at putting more pressure on the Democrats — and feuding with each other in the process.

The clash between the two Senate rivals is the latest act in a fierce battle, as Paxton runs against the incumbent from his right flank. It shows how the two men are responding to the redistricting standoff, with each trying to frame himself as the toughest fighter and the one most committed to delivering President Donald Trump the five extra Republican congressional seats he has said he is “entitled to.”

As state attorney general, Paxton has a direct role to play in this debate, and he has used the power of his law enforcement office to take aggressive action against state Democratic lawmakers and their allies.

Paxton has petitioned the state Supreme Court to boot state Rep. Gene Wu, the chair of the Democratic caucus in the state House, from office. (Gov. Greg Abbott lodged a similar petition, but Paxton argued that he, not the governor, is the one who has the right to bring such a charge.) Days later, he asked the court to boot 13 more state House Democrats.