Trump-Backed Paxton Loses Support of Big Primary Donor in Texas Senate Race

Texas personal injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry, whose law firm gave more than $640,000 to a pro-Paxton super PAC before the GOP runoff, says he now supports Democrat James Talarico. His announcement came a day after Neil Bush said he voted for Talarico.

By Quinn BallardPublished

As of October 22, 2026. Early voting in Texas runs through October 30, and Election Day is November 3.

Thomas J. Henry, a Texas personal injury lawyer known statewide for his firm’s billboards and TV ads, said Wednesday that he supports Democrat James Talarico in the U.S. Senate race. Before the May Republican runoff, Henry’s law firm gave more than $640,000 to a super PAC supporting Talarico’s opponent, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

What Henry said

In a video posted Wednesday night on social media, Henry said he decided to back Talarico after meeting with him in person for a long discussion about issues including national security and the economy. He described Talarico’s approach as balanced, straightforward and honest, and said the meeting showed him Talarico’s values on respect, fairness, safety and economics.

Henry addressed his earlier support for Paxton directly. He said he backed Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in the primary partly because he believes Cornyn had served too long and that senators shouldn’t serve unlimited terms. He also noted that Paxton did not debate Cornyn during the primary.

The money

Ahead of the May runoff, Thomas J. Henry Law made two contributions totaling $646,107 to Lone Star Liberty PAC, the main super PAC supporting Paxton in the primary, according to Federal Election Commission filings reviewed by Newsweek.

The Austin American-Statesman and Houston Chronicle reported that Henry’s past political giving went mostly to Democrats, and that he had been largely inactive in politics since the 2016 cycle before this year. Trial lawyers have generally aligned with Democrats, though some have supported anti-establishment Republicans like Paxton, the Chronicle noted.

Newsweek and the American-Statesman said they contacted both campaigns for comment on the endorsement.

Other crossover support

Henry’s announcement came a day after Neil Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush, wrote on Facebook that he had voted early for Talarico. Bush said he has been a Republican most of his life but cited concerns about Paxton’s record, including his challenge to the 2020 presidential election results, and praised Talarico’s character. He also criticized President Trump’s effect on the Republican Party.

They join other Republicans who have broken with Paxton this year:

  • Sen. John Cornyn, who lost the runoff to Paxton after Trump endorsed Paxton, has not endorsed him.
  • Karl Rove, the longtime GOP strategist, has not said whether he’ll vote for Paxton, and said in September he’ll vote for a Democrat in the separate race for railroad commissioner.

Paxton has the backing of Trump, who has campaigned for him in Texas, and of the main Senate Republican super PAC, whose Texas affiliate has spent more than $100 million supporting him and opposing Talarico, mostly funded by Elon Musk.

Do endorsements like this matter?

Probably not by much on their own. Most voters decide based on party and their views of the candidates, and Texas polls show both nominees holding the large majority of their own party’s voters. Crossover endorsements matter more as signals: they can give permission to other voters in the same position, and they show where parts of a party’s donor and establishment base are moving.

In this race, the margin is narrow enough that small shifts could matter. Decision Desk HQ’s polling average has Talarico at 49.1% and Paxton at 47.0%, and it rates the race a toss-up. Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988.

What to watch

  • Whether more Republican or GOP-leaning donors follow. Henry is the most prominent Paxton primary donor to switch so far.
  • Early voting turnout through October 30.
  • Whether Paxton agrees to a debate. He hasn’t accepted any invitations; Talarico has accepted at least four.

Sources

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