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Paxton and Platner visit Washington to shore up support for their controversial Senate candidacies

Paxton visited Washington to shore up support for his Senate candidacy after winning the Texas runoff.

Paxton and Platner visit Washington to shore up support for their controversial Senate candidacies
Image · The Seattle Times

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Jun 2, 2026
tl;dr

Senate candidates Ken Paxton and Graham Platner visited Washington to build party support as their parties weigh the risks their candidacies may pose in competitive races. The article also describes controversies surrounding both candidates and reactions from lawmakers.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Paxton in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Paxton’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate in Texas

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic Senate candidate in Maine

Platner's version of this story ↗
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
D · NY · SEN

New York senator and chair of the Senate Democrats’ campaign group

Democratic nominee opposing Paxton in Texas

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Maine senator and Republican candidate facing Platner

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President; met with Paxton and endorsed him

Former president, mentioned in comparison to the 2020 Maine election

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Vermont senator who endorsed Platner

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who backed Cornyn

Martin Heinrich
D · NM · SEN

New Mexico senator who endorsed Platner

John Fetterman
D · PA · SEN

Pennsylvania senator who criticized Platner

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate Democratic leader who met with Platner

Former Biden White House chief of staff and co-host of a Platner fundraiser

Roger Marshall
R · KS · SEN

Kansas senator who voiced support for Paxton

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator and co-host of a Paxton fundraiser

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Massachusetts senator who said she wanted to hear Platner discuss the economy

Maine governor and former Democratic Senate candidate

Beto O'Rourke
Former U.S. Representative (D-TX)

Former Texas Senate candidate

John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator defeated by Paxton in the runoff

Part of a bigger story

15 OUTLETS
Ken Paxton Seeks Republican Support During Washington Visit

Ken Paxton, a Texas Republican Senate candidate, is receiving national Republican support, including through a joint fundraising committee. Center outlets present the Washington visit as a bid to build party support while noting concerns about Paxton’s competitiveness, controversies and fundraising. Right-leaning outlets focus on the NRSC’s fundraising support despite its earlier primary criticism of Paxton, and note his fundraising disadvantage.

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