Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton came out strong Friday morning, announcing a «historic» $2.9 million fundraising haul over the past three months for his Republican Senate campaign.

Paxton, a MAGA champion and longtime ally of President Donald Trump – who has been battered over the past decade by multiple controversies – is primary challenging longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, in what is shaping up to be an expensive and bitterly brutal battle.

The fundraising announcement by Paxton came hours after a new development rocked the Lone Star State’s primary race.

Paxton’s wife, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, a Republican, announced Thursday that she’s filed for divorce from her longtime husband.

‘BIBLICAL GROUNDS’ – KEN PAXTON’S WIFE FILES FOR DIVORCE 

«Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds,» the state senator wrote in a social media post.

«I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation,» she added. «But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage.»

In his own statement, Ken Paxton said that «after facing the pressures of countless political attacks and public scrutiny, Angela and I have decided to start a new chapter in our lives.»

The attorney general added that «I could not be any more proud or grateful for the incredible family that God has blessed us with, and I remain committed to supporting our amazing children and grandchildren. I ask for your prayers and privacy at this time.»

TRUMP ALLY PAXTON LAUNCHES SENATE PRIMARY CHALLENGE IN TEXAS

Paxton, who first won election as Texas attorney general in 2014 and has been re-elected twice, was impeached a couple of years ago by the Texas House of Representatives on allegations of corruption, which included claims related to an extramarital affair. He was later acquitted by the state Senate.

A veteran Texas-based Republican strategist, when asked how the divorce bombshell will impact the Senate primary, said the key is whether there are more damaging revelations to come.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at an event outside the Texas Statehouse, on Feb. 28, 2022 in Austin, Texas.  (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

«Most people I’m talking to are expecting a lot more details in this story that Republican primary voters aren’t going to be too happy about,» said the strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely. «I think there is quite more to come and soon.»

Paxton, in his fundraising release, highlighted that he was «blown away by the support I’ve received since launching my campaign. The grassroots movement to fire John Cornyn continues to grow stronger every single day, and this is only just the beginning.» 

«Our voters have been excited to send John Cornyn packing for years, which is why he’s down over 20 points, and his campaign is getting more and more desperate,» Paxton said, as he pointed to a number of recent polls indicating his lead over the senator.

Thanks to his strong support among MAGA world, polling has never been Paxton’s’ problem in taking on Cornyn.

The more important issue was whether he could compete financially with a senator with a history of strong fundraising.

Cornyn’s campaign has yet to announce its second quarter fundraising. But Texans for a Conservative Majority, a Cornyn-aligned super PAC, announced on July 1 that they had raked in $10.9 million over the past three months.

A separate GOP consultant in Texas, who also asked for anonymity, said Paxton needs to quickly answer questions to make sure supporters and donors don’t jump ship.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, seen at a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, on March 14, 2025, is running for re-election next year.  (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

«The people that are backing him with their public support, such as elected officials, or people who are backing him financially, are going to want answers very quickly, as in today, about what’s the damage. Is this true? Do you deny it? What other issues may come up if your spouse is looking to tell their version of the truth,» the consultant said.

And the consultant noted that what Paxton’s wife says going forward will be crucial.

«State Sen. Angele Paxton had been by Ken’s side for the entire saga over the last decade and up close and personal with all the issues he’s been accused of. She’s been front and center for it all.»

While Cornyn’s campaign didn’t put out any statement regarding the divorce news, it did issue a release titled: «Ken Paxton’s TERRIBLE week.»

It included a social media post from Matt Schaeffer, a conservative former member of the state legislature who argued that «Paxton is morally unfit to hold office.»

While Trump has stayed neutral in the primary so far, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) are backing Cornyn.

GOP Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas speaks during Day 1 of the Republican National Convention, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2024. Reuters/Mike Segar

There’s a possibility another Republican could enter the Senate primary.

Three-term Rep. Wesley Hunt, a rising MAGA star who represents a Houston-area district, has been mulling a Senate run. Sources confirmed to Fox News earlier this year that Hunt had made his case to President Donald Trump’s political team that he’s the only person who can win both a GOP primary and a general election.

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And on Friday, a Texas-based conservative strategist who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, told Fox News he believes «Hunt is still the only candidate in Texas that can win the primary and the general election.»

A different consultant noted that «the possibility that Ken will exit the race changes the dynamics dramatically,» and that «it absolutely does give Hunt something to think about.»

Hunt, along with Cornyn and GOP Sen. Ted Cruz joined the president on Friday on a flight from the nation’s capital to Texas on board Air Force One, as Trump traveled to the state to survey damage from horrific flooding that grabbed national headlines this week.

Hay una sola cosa que la fortuna de Elon Musk no puede comprar: la presidencia de los Estados Unidos. Para todo lo demás, existe su abultada e interminable billetera.

Musk, el multimillonario dueño de Tesla y X nacido en Sudáfrica, demostró que es capaz de influir en el inquilino temporal de la Casa Blanca, como la hecho con Donald Trump hasta su mediático divorcio, pero no puede ser electo presidente por no haber nacido en los Estados Unidos.

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Esa es su mayor traba que pone un límite a sus ambiciones políticas. Pero ese obstáculo no le impide intentar poner patas para arriba a la democracia estadounidense y a su sólido sistema bipartidista. Con ideas conservadoras y un coqueteo incipiente con el movimiento libertario local, busca crear desde cero su propia agrupación para desembocar en el Capitolio el año próximo. Se trata del America Party (Partido América).

Elon Musk tiene millones de razones para sustentar su propio partido

Musk aportó 200 millones de dólares para apuntalar la campaña de Trump. A cambio, el magnate republicano lo sumó a su gobierno como jefe del Departamento de Eficiencia Gubernamental (DOGE, por sus siglas en inglés).

Desde allí Musk despidió a miles de trabajadores estatales, cerró dependencias federales, recortó subsidios y programas sociales y lanzó una verdadera cacería de brujas contra el sector público.

Pero el deficitario presupuesto de ley de Trump, aprobado por el Congreso, provocó el quiebre en la relación. Musk cuestionó en duros términos el proyecto. Según dijo, era “una abominación repugnante”.

La escalada no se detuvo ahí. Musk renunció a su cargo. Hubo acusaciones cruzadas y hasta una amenaza concreta de Trump de deportarlo a pesar de que el empresario es ciudadano estadounidense naturalizado. Todo se resolvió con una llamada telefónica para limar asperezas. Musk incluso pidió perdón por involucrar al presidente en los archivos del fallecido pedófilo Jeffrey Epstein. Fue un escándalo más acorde con un programa de chismes del espectáculo.

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Las aguas finalmente se calmaron. Pero ahora Musk va por más. Busca irrumpir con su propio partido en las elecciones de medio término del año próximo y alcanzar un puñado de bancas en el Capitolio. Si lo logra se convertiría en un influyente poder negociador para inclinar la balanza legislativa en medio de una gran paridad de fuerzas entre Republicanos y Demócratas.

Elon Musk busca socios y coquetea con el Partido Libertario

Musk no perdió el tiempo y comenzó a tejer alianzas.

Según el portal Politico, ya se reunió con el empresario de origen taiwanés y ex precandidato presidencial demócrata, Andrew Yang, fundador del Foward Party (Partido de Avanzada).

“Apoyo con entusiasmo a cualquiera que quiera abandonar el duopolio. Y me complace ayudar a dar una idea de cuál es el camino”, dijo Yang. Incluso, afirmó que podría ayudarlo a reclutar candidatos.

No fue el único en mostrar interés en su proyecto político. También lo hicieron el empresario Mark Cuban (exdueño de los Dallas Mavericks, la popular franquicia de la NBA), el financista Anthony Sacaramucci (administrador de fondos de alto riesgo estadounidense) y el inversor tecnológico Tyler Palmer.

Pero Musk también empezó a coquetear con los movimientos minoritarios No Labels (Sin Etiquetas) y el Partido Libertario.

“Musk podría hacer que un esfuerzo de un tercer partido sea inmediatamente viable, y eso cambia el juego”, dijo Ron Nielson, quien dirigió la campaña del candidato libertario Gary Johnson para presidente en 2016.

Los libertarios están presionando a Musk a través de esa red social para que se una a ellos. El partido tiene ya una infraestructura armada y su plataforma coincide con las ideas de Musk, más afines a las del presidente Javier Milei.

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“Quizás existan motivos para una coalición entre los libertarios y el Partido América para presentar candidatos libertarios. Los republicanos demostraron que no son confiables”, dijo el titular del partido, Steven Nekhaila, citado por el sitio Axios.

Pero Musk quiere empezar de cero. El multimillonario fundador de Tesla tiene el dinero suficiente para montar de la nada un nuevo partido. No es una tarea fácil. Debe reunir miles de firmas de votantes en cada estado donde desee aparecer en las boletas electorales. La burocracia es muy difícil de sortear en muchos distritos y mucho más en aquellos territorios dominados por caudillos republicanos o demócratas que pueden poner trabas arbitrarias incluso para candidatos al Capitolio.

Otro punto que deberá sortear el dueño de X es su escasa popularidad. La última encuesta sobre su imagen, divulgada en enero por AP-NORC, reveló que el 52% de los estadounidenses tenía una visión desfavorable sobre el empresario de origen sudafricano. Solo el 36% mostró simpatía por él.

Qué busca Musk con su Partido América y cuáles son sus propuestas

El objetivo primario de Musk es lograr un puñado de bancas en el Senado y en la Cámara de Representantes que defiendan puntos básicos, en especial su lucha contra el enorme déficit de caja que sumará 3,4 billones de dólares en la próxima década a causa de la nueva ley de presupuesto aprobada en el Congreso.

Esos escaños, en un escenario de paridad legislativa, le permitirían convertirse en un factor de absoluto poder para aprobar o rechazar proyectos en el Capitolio. Resta saber si Musk querrá ser candidato o si permanecerá en un segundo plano como un gran titiritero y financista.

“Hay que reconocer el mérito: este plan es algo mejor que simplemente respaldar una candidatura presidencial de un tercer partido, condenada al fracaso, en 2028″, escribió The New York Times.

Según el influyente diario neoyorquino, para que el partido tenga éxito “no debería centrarse únicamente en los estados clave más disputados”, donde los legisladores independientes tienen hasta ahora escasas posibilidades de llegar al Congreso.

En cambio, la estrategia debería apuntalar candidaturas en estados demócratas o republicanos para aprovecharse de la “exasperación persistente con el partido gobernante, incluso entre sus propios partidarios”, indicó.

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El segundo reto para el Partido América será encontrar candidatos que aporten credibilidad. Pero buscar esa clase de postulantes no será fácil. Musk necesita convencer a verdaderos pesos pesados de la política estadounidenses, como exgobernadores, senadores activos o retirados, un líder empresarial con perfil público positivo o algún independiente sin actividad política pasada.

Pero para que este partido funcione, a juicio del New York Times, Musk necesita distanciarse de su propia figura como “progenitor y financista”.

“Un guion exitoso probablemente tendría que ser deliberadamente vago, prometiendo compromisos en todos los frentes, mientras se definiría constantemente en negativo, en contra de la izquierda progresista y la derecha MAGA. De alguna manera, tendría que ser financiado por Musk sin ser Muskiano. Debería ser percibido como algo que él puso en marcha, pero que se negó a microgestionar, con sus candidatos exitosos como sus líderes naturales, en lugar del mismísimo rey de Tesla”, concluyó.

Progressive firebrand Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, made a second surprise appearance at the House Oversight Committee’s closed-door discussions with former Biden administration aides this week, once again criticizing President Donald Trump on the way out.

Crockett surprised reporters when she arrived roughly 15 minutes after House investigators’ transcribed interview with former White House advisor Ashley Williams began, declining to speak on the way in.

The Texas Democrat emerged just over 30 minutes later, saying little about what went on inside but telling reporters she still had «absolutely» no concerns about Biden’s mental fitness while in office.

She said it was important to «be there physically» for Biden allies being interviewed in the GOP probe – even going as far as suggesting the Trump administration created a threatening environment for members of Congress and its own political opponents.

FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP

«It is important…in my mind, to be there for these witnesses. Unfortunately, we know what happens when this regime gets going. We know about the threats that come upon them, that come upon us as members of Congress,» Crockett said.

«I think it is important to stand there in solidarity and to at least be there physically so that they don’t feel like they’re alone as they are enduring egregious attacks consistently from this administration.»

Crockett was the only lawmaker seen going in or out of Williams’ meeting with investigators on Friday. The transcribed interview was expected to be staff-led, and lawmakers were not required to attend.

«Right now, the Republicans continue to act as if this is a main priority. Yet none of them are showing up,» she said.

«I do think that it is important that I show up because if they are going to make allegations about the former commander-in-chief, egregious allegations they continue to wage. I want to make sure that I’m in the room to correct the record, because a lot of times they like to mischaracterize things.»

COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’

Former President Joe Biden’s use of autopen is being investigated. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

When asked by Fox News Digital if the interview was still ongoing as she exited, however, Crockett answered, «It’s still going. I’m leaving early. I’ve got to get to another thing.»

A source familiar with the ongoing proceeding told Fox News Digital that Crockett came in during Republican investigators’ round of questioning and so was unable to make inquiries herself. Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett for a response.

Williams was the former Director of Strategic Outreach under the Biden administration. She did not speak to reporters on the way into her transcribed interview.

Crockett initially caught reporters and potentially even staff off guard when she arrived for the closed-door deposition of Biden’s former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., was there as well, as is the norm for sworn depositions.

Williams, unlike O’Connor, is not on Capitol Hill under subpoena.

The House Oversight Committee questioned President Joe Biden’s physician Kevin O’Connor during a recent hearing as part of a probe into Biden’s alleged mental decline.  (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

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During her Wednesday appearance, Crockett declared she never had any concerns about Biden’s mental state while he was president, though she did raise similar claims about Trump.

White House spokesman Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital in response to Crockett questioning Trump’s mental acuity: «The Democrats’ rising star has done more to cement the party’s demise than the President she breathlessly supported, the decrepit and feeble Joe Biden. Jasmine continues to prove she’d be better suited as a reality TV star on VH1 than an elected official on Capitol Hill.»

Comer is investigating accusations that Biden’s former top White House aides covered up signs of his mental and physical decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were commissioned via autopen without the president’s full knowledge. Biden allies have pushed back on those claims.