John Cornyn

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told Newsmax on Tuesday that Sen. John Cornyn's claim that Paxton cannot win a general election is a "made-up talking point," arguing there is no polling data showing the Republican senator would fare better against Democrat James Talarico in November.

Appearing on "Carl Higbie FRONTLINE," Paxton, who is running in a primary runoff for Cornyn's Senate seat, said his GOP rival is trying to make electability the focus of the race because he has little else to offer Texas voters.

"If you have nothing to run on, which, in 42 years, he doesn't have any accomplishments that he can tout," Paxton said. "All he has is siding with [former President] Joe Biden on restricting Second Amendment rights and fighting [President Donald] Trump on the border wall for over a decade."

Cornyn has warned Republicans that Paxton's nomination could cost the party the seat and damage down-ballot candidates. Paxton rejected that argument, pointing to his own record of statewide wins.

"What he says is he makes up this idea that I can't win a general election," Paxton said. "And yet I've won three straight general elections. He says he won his last by 10. I won my last by 10."

Paxton said the polling does not support Cornyn's argument that he is the stronger general election candidate against Talarico, a Democratic state representative.

"There's no polling that suggests that he does any better than me," Paxton said. "As a matter of fact, some polling suggests I do better than him. So, this is just a made-up talking point that they've spent $150 million putting out there. And it's just false."

Paxton also cast Cornyn as a creature of Washington, saying the senator has aligned himself with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and failed to consistently support Trump.

"This guy has represented Mitch McConnell and the establishment in Washington," Paxton said. "He doesn't represent Texas views, and that's why he hasn't stood behind Trump."

Paxton said Cornyn only moved toward Trump when election season made it necessary.

"This guy has never stood with the president until he needed to during the primary, and he's never stood with Texans," Paxton said.

Paxton also praised Trump's endorsement, saying the president's support reflects their shared priorities.

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"Whenever I'm with Donald Trump, good things happen for Texas, good things happen for the country and good things happen for me," he said.

Looking toward a possible November race against Talarico, Paxton said the Democrat's views are far outside the Texas mainstream.

"When we highlight his views to Texans, I don't see how he possibly wins in Texas once people realize the guy is as liberal as they come and does not belong on a ballot in Texas," Paxton said. "He belongs on a ballot in California."