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Following Texas State Senator Angela Paxton announcing she is filing for divorce from her husband, Attorney General Ken Paxton, the conservative activist group Texas Values has announced that they are rescinding their endorsement of Ken Paxton's Senate campaign.
Texas Values President Jonathan Saenz says this move is a result of their respect for marriage. He said, "We have standards when we make endorsements, and if we feel that a candidate does not meet that standard, we reserve the right to withdraw that endorsement."
Saenz went on to say that the allegations against Paxton, which right now are repeated adultery, are an attack on marriage, and that falls below their standards for a candidate endorsement. He also said they reached out to the Paxton team about the allegations, but his response was "unsatisfactory."
Strategist Vlad Davidiuk says this could be a major shift in the momentum of the race, which has favored Paxton until now. He said, "The fact that Trump has not yet endorsed also sends a strong signal that there are significant issues with the way that this race is shaping up."
Davidiuk says this could create an opportunity for a third GOP candidate to jump into the race and grab the support of conservatives who have become disillusioned with Ken Paxton.