John Thune

Senate Majority Leader John Thune called on Republicans Wednesday to unite around Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the GOP nominee in the state’s U.S. Senate election.

Paxton’s challenge of incumbent Senator John Cornyn exposed divisions within a Republican Party that has generally appeared unified. Thune and many of his GOP colleagues endorsed Cornyn over Paxton, who they believe has a worse chance of beating state Representative James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, in the general election.

“But, you know, the voters, Republican voters in Texas, spoke last night,” Thune told radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview. “Ken Paxton is our nominee heading into November, and we gotta pivot and go all in to make sure that we keep Texas red, that he wins and that we keep a far-left liberal out of the United States Senate.”

Talarico was even with Paxton in a poll conducted between late April and early May. The survey, administered by Texas Southern University, found each candidate with the support of 45% of likely voters, while eight percent were unsure.

Thune’s colleagues spoke out last week against nominating the attorney general despite President Donald Trump’s recent show of support. Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican, reportedly expressed concern over Paxton’s potential impact on the GOP’s ability to keep control of the chamber through the midterms.

“Based on the numbers that I’ve seen, yeah,” she said, according to The Hill. “How does that help strengthen the president’s hand when we lose a state like Texas?”

Republicans still have better odds at retaining the Senate, though their path to success is narrower. Cook Political Report classifies North Carolina’s race to replace retiring Republican Thom Tillis as “Lean Democrat,” while elections in Maine and Ohio are rated toss-ups.