The Texas Republicans Who Have Had Enough
Four Lone Star State conservatives wrestle with their party’s MAGA turn.
In the hours leading up to the midterms, the Tarrant County Young Republicans found themselves in a heated debate over the suitability of their Senate nominee, Ken Paxton. The young leader of the group, Hillary Shepheard, welcomed guests to her home for a casual gathering where the topic of the midterms dominated the conversation.
Among the attendees were a former politician, a party activist, and a professor, all deeply passionate about the outcome of the election. During their discussion, Shepheard's small dog, Tia, kept the group entertained with her yaps and growls. Despite the chaos around her, Shepheard remained focused on the pressing issue at hand.
As the evening progressed, the group weighed the moral implications of supporting Paxton, a candidate with a troubled past including allegations of fraud, bribery, and extramarital affairs. The consensus among the Republicans, despite their differing opinions on Trump's presidency, was that Paxton had to lose in order to preserve the long-term survival of their party.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
