During a recent appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis criticized former President Donald Trump’s decision to back Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican primary. Tillis, who is retiring from the Senate, described the endorsement as a "colossal mistake" that has forced the Republican party to spend significant financial resources in a state that might otherwise have been less competitive.

Tillis contrasted his view of the two candidates, characterizing Cornyn as a "great member of the US Senate" while noting that Paxton "has his challenges." The senator suggested that the internal party conflict resulting from the primary has created unnecessary financial strain, estimating that the party is now spending tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in Texas as a result of the primary outcome. The Guardian reports that this critique highlights ongoing tensions between establishment-aligned Republicans and those who prioritize Trump’s endorsements, even when those endorsements challenge sitting members of the party.