Liam Donovan

You know, you have to think John Cornyn, who I adore, is a longtime incumbent, is very much of the flavor of the George W. Bush, Rick Perry era Texas Republican Party.

which is not necessarily the vanguard here.

He spent a decade plus in Senate leadership in ways that tie him to the National Party, in ways that can be complicated in these sorts of primary efforts.

Why does Donald Trump get involved?

Look,

Like I said, I think Cornyn became a bargaining chip for Trump with John Thune at a time when he wanted the Senate to do certain things.

In the Senate at that point, there was this big push to get the Save America Act across, to nuke the filibuster, to do so, all these complicated things.

When that didn't happen, it became clear that

There did not seem to be an inclination from the president to to to back Cornyn.

When I heard that he was going to endorse that gave me a bad feeling in my stomach.

I had a feeling that wasn't going to be for Cornyn.

I question the idea that Paxton loses this seat.

I think the real problem for Republicans is.

I mean, twofold.

Number one, it's always easier, cheaper, more straightforward to get an incumbent reelected than it is to have an open seat.

The more complicated the candidate is, the more expensive it is.

I think that's the real problem is this is a massive state with a huge number of expensive media markets.

The amount of resources that will be expended here and the marginal, it was going to be expensive for Cornyn.

It's going to be insanely expensive for Paxton.

And I think that will be costly.