Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota is cautioning that Republicans could lose a key Texas Senate seat in November if Sen. John Cornyn is defeated in the GOP primary.
Thune said recent general election polling suggests the race may not be secure, depending on which candidate Democrats nominate.
Cornyn is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt in the Republican primary, with a runoff scheduled if no contender wins a majority.
Paxton has led in some recent surveys, raising concerns among certain Republicans who worry he could be a divisive nominee in a statewide general election.
Party strategists say Democrats would still face an uphill battle in Texas, though some believe a competitive matchup could emerge under specific circumstances.
Recent polling from the University of Texas and the University of Houston showed Paxton holding an advantage among likely Republican voters, with Cornyn trailing and Hunt drawing smaller support.
The contest has drawn significant spending from both sides, and national Republicans are closely watching the outcome as they seek to protect their Senate majority heading into the November election.
