At the Texas Tribune Festival, Republican strategist Karl Rove said his party was being infiltrated by “people like Bo French,” whom he called a Nazi, and said Ken Paxton is struggling against Democrat James Talarico in the Texas Senate race, citing Paxton’s multiple scandals.
French, a Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner, faced backlash after publishing a racist social media post about South Asian students at a University of Texas football game. Rove said he would vote for French’s Democratic opponent.
President Donald Trump had backed Paxton over longtime Sen. John Cornyn. Rove said Republicans would handily win if Cornyn had been their nominee. He also said Sen. Ted Cruz told him “We’re losing” within the previous 48 hours, and that Paxton emailed him, “I’m losing, I need your help.”
