Texas Republicans at odds over GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton

Texas Republicans are split over Ken Paxton, the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate, and a recently leaked recording has brought the division into public view. In the audio, Paxton says John Cornyn, the longtime senator who was ousted, is not supporting him. With the disagreement out in the open, Republicans in the state are working to calm the infighting and settle their differences over the nominee, according to NBC News.

NBC News' Natasha Korecki reports on how party members hope to resolve the conflict. The coverage also follows the Democratic nominee, James Talarico, who has spoken publicly about the Republican's absence from campaign events.

Talarico has additionally dared Paxton to debate him, saying he is "asking for proof of spine from him." The challenge targets the Republican nominee directly while his own party in Texas remains at odds over him. The exchange pits Paxton against a Democratic rival who is openly demanding that he show up, even as the Republican side tries to patch up its own rift.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →