The Focus Group Podcast: "Texas-Sized Scandal"

Host: Sarah Longwell (The Bulwark)
Guest: Eric Benson (Texas Monthly)
Date: February 21, 2026
Episode: S6 Ep25

Overview

This episode plunges into the high-stakes, drama-filled Texas GOP Senate primary, which Sarah Longwell calls "a hilarious illustration of the current state of the GOP." With veteran Texas reporter Eric Benson as her co-pilot, the show analyzes voter sentiment around the key Republican candidates—John Cornyn (incumbent Senator), Ken Paxton (scandal-plagued Attorney General), and Wesley Hunt (rising MAGA-aligned Congressman). Through focus group clips and sharp commentary, the hosts probe what the Texas electorate really thinks about these contenders, and what it all reveals about the evolution of both Texas politics and the Republican Party.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Texas Politics Is So Unique

[03:32–05:57]

• Texas is richly diverse: From the border towns near the Rio Grande Valley to the plains of the Panhandle, the state encompasses a range of cultures and sub-states, each with distinct identities.
  • "It’s such a diverse state, from the east to the west, from the north to the south. It contains everything." — Eric Benson (03:59)
• The notion that Texas is merely a solid red state is outdated; there’s significant demographic and political flux, especially with shifting suburbs and diversifying metro areas.

Changing voter blocks:

• South Texas, once solidly Democrat, has leaned red; suburbs of Dallas/Houston are increasingly diverse, impacting political dynamics.
• The long-held belief that Texas might flip blue is repeatedly tested but rarely realized.
  • "I think it would be silly to predict at this point that Texas was going to turn blue, at least anytime soon...which isn’t to say it couldn’t happen this year, but that's a funny joke." — Eric Benson (08:19)

2. Voter Confusion & Apathy in the GOP Primary

[09:06–11:07]

• Clips reveal that many Republican primary voters are not deeply engaged:
  • Some can't remember who’s actually running ("I’m going to be voting for Ted Cruz." — focus group participant, 11:07).
  • General sense of malaise; no clear favorite, many are underwhelmed by the choices, and confusion about candidates abounds.

3. Senator John Cornyn: The Establishment “Placeholder”

[11:11–18:30]

• Cornyn’s struggle with image: Despite a long record in the Senate, voters see Cornyn as dull, uninspiring, and lacking the “fighter” spirit they crave.
  • "He just seems like he’s just been there forever...just kind of a placeholder." — Focus group participant (13:26)
  • "He votes and looks nice and does his job and is professional. No complaints. Just would love more action from him." — Focus group participant (13:43)
• His record as a skilled legislator is actually a liability; achievements are perceived as “RINO”/establishment.
  • "If John Cornyn were to run a campaign on his strengths...these aren’t things that John Cornyn is spending a lot of time saying himself." — Eric Benson (16:47)
• Cornyn resorts to running against his own track record, touting anti-Sharia law ads and attacking rivals' conservative credentials—messaging far removed from his strengths.

Notable Quote:
"He can't talk about his accomplishments as a US Senator, and instead he has to kind of do a bit of a race to the bottom with the other candidates." — Eric Benson (16:47)

4. The Ken Paxton Paradox: Scandal as a Badge of Honor

[22:31–29:25]

• Voters are aware of Paxton’s scandals: Adultery, corruption, financial impropriety. Some are “appalled”; others outright say he’s “a slimy snake.”
  • "Ken Paxton has a long history of integrity issues and that concerns me because...I want to be able to trust the person that's in office." — Focus group participant (22:47)
  • "I'm pretty convinced I’m going to vote for Ken Paxton...That’s the nature of all politics. All politicians really." — Focus group participant (23:34)
  • "If I was voting on deacons for our church, definitely Ken Paxton wouldn’t be part of it… but I would be voting for whether politically I thought he would represent us." — Focus group participant (24:03)
• But scandal is no longer disqualifying: Many voters separate personal morals from political effectiveness. Paxton’s willingness to “fight” using his office for culture-war purposes trumps his legal baggage.
• Paxton’s strategy: He files high-profile lawsuits and casts himself as a MAGA warrior. Scandals have become proof he’s upsetting the right people.
  • "He has had these financial scandals. He was impeached...But he gave the conservative base...what they want." — Eric Benson (29:25)

Memorable comparison:
"The old Republican Party...was like, ‘I'm not going to go near this corrupt stuff.’...to the new Republican Party, which is like, ‘give me the corrupt stuff, as long as it's done in service of MAGA...’" — Sarah Longwell (33:37)

5. Why Compromise & Legislative Success Don’t Sell Anymore

[35:17–37:19]

• “Compromise” is no longer a virtue. Voters see deal-making and effectiveness as evidence of being a “RINO” or weak.
  • “They see compromise as weakness...there’s not an incentive structure for compromise if the voters don’t want it.” — Sarah Longwell (37:19)
• Voters want “fighters,” not legislators. This is reshaping both campaign rhetoric and party incentives.

6. The Wesley Hunt Wild Card

[40:22–47:20]

• Hunt, a younger Black Congressman, is the least known but could be very competitive in a runoff with either Paxton or Cornyn.
• Voters are curious but skeptical: Questions arise about his voting record (“he didn’t vote for Donald Trump”), his attendance, and whispered smear campaigns.
  • “Now, Wesley Hunt, the only thing that’s really holding me back on him is he did not vote for Donald Trump...That makes me wonder, like, is he really aligned?” — Focus group participant (41:49)
• Hunt rebranded himself as a MAGA loyalist after initially being viewed as more moderate.
  • "He has really lashed himself to Trump...his campaign is that he’s not Ken Paxton or John Cornyn, and he’s a MAGA true believer.” — Eric Benson (43:59)
• He faces an uphill battle: less funding, less name recognition, but could become a “real threat.”

7. What Happens Next? Runoff Scenarios

[47:20–48:29]

• A runoff is a certainty, and it’s very likely Paxton will be in the top two.
• If it’s Paxton vs. Cornyn, the more activist candidate (Paxton) has the upper hand.
  • “...the more activist, approved. I’m not even going to say more conservative, but whatever. The more kind of activist, approved candidate wins because those are the voters who are more passionate.” — Eric Benson (47:38)
• Hunt making the runoff could destabilize predictions.

8. How Do Christian Voters Square Voting for Scandal-Tainted Candidates?

[50:49–52:51]

• Paxton speaks evangelical “language” fluently—invoking Bible stories, martyrdom, and faith-based narratives—which resonates more than his actions.
  • “He talks about Jesus...compared his political struggles to those of Joseph in the Old Testament... He speaks that language. So I think people, even if they don’t like the actions, they hear the words that he’s saying and the way he’s wrapping himself in a kind of martyrdom, and they can get behind that.” — Eric Benson (50:49)

9. Trump’s Influence

[53:40–54:37]

• Trump has withheld endorsement so far, not wanting to risk looking “weak” (if his candidate loses) or “stupid” (if his pick loses the general).
  • “I think Trump would probably rather look stupid than weak. But I think he would rather not endorse and avoid both of those things.” — Eric Benson (54:10)

10. Democratic Primary & General Election Possibilities

[54:37–59:02]

• The upcoming Democratic primary between James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett mirrors national discussions: electability versus energizing the base.

• Talarico is seen as the “safer” general election candidate, especially if Paxton wins the GOP nod.

• National Republicans fear a Paxton nomination could drain resources and make the seat surprisingly competitive.

  • “One thing that's interesting is when I talk to kind of national level Republicans, the thing that freaks them out about Ken Paxton winning the primary is not so much Senator Ken Paxton, it's this would become a very competitive race and we would have to spend so much money on it and we would still probably win. But spending that much money would siphon off money from Alaska and Maine and North Carolina and then we might lose those races.” — Eric Benson (57:59)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “If our political purity test is ‘didn’t cheat on your wife’ but we all support Trump, that’s going to be a tough position to defend.” — Sarah Longwell, reading from focus group (22:31)
• "My rationale for Ken Paxton is...all politicians really, they're going to tell you what you want to hear, so you'll vote for them and then proceed to do whatever they want..." — Focus group participant (23:34)
• "He [Cornyn] has a little brother personality where he just hangs on, he’s a hanger on. And I think those kind of personalities are easy to bulldoze.” — Focus group participant (14:49)
• "He talks about himself and compared his political struggles to those of Joseph in the Old Testament and...being turned on by his brothers and then coming to sit in their judgment.” — Eric Benson, on Paxton’s evangelical appeal (50:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:32 – Texas's political and cultural diversity
• 07:52 – Why Texas hasn’t become a blue state
• 09:33 – Focus group reactions: GOP voter confusion and candidate apathy
• 11:11 – Cornyn’s struggle with image and “toughness”
• 16:47 – Why Cornyn can’t campaign on his strengths
• 22:31 – How Republican voters rationalize or reject Ken Paxton’s scandals
• 29:25 – Paxton’s legal troubles and populist strategy
• 33:37 – Old vs. new Republican Party attitudes to corruption
• 35:17 – Why “compromise” is now a dirty word among GOP base voters
• 40:22 – Introduction to the Wesley Hunt wild card
• 43:59 – How Hunt positioned himself in the race
• 47:20 – Runoff scenarios and likely outcomes
• 50:49 – How evangelical language shields Paxton from scandal fallout
• 53:40 – Trump’s endorsement (or lack thereof) calculus
• 54:53 – Democratic primary and electability
• 57:59 – GOP anxiety about a Paxton/Talarico general election

Tone and Style

The conversation is frank, witty, and laced with sardonic humor—especially as the hosts contrast the perceived absurdity of the current Texas GOP with the apparent reasonableness of establishment politicians like Cornyn. Focus group comments featured are candid, at times exasperated, offering a raw look at what base voters believe—and what they’re willing to justify.

Summary

This lively, insightful episode of The Focus Group Podcast dissects the Texas GOP Senate primary as a microcosm of national Republican upheaval. It reveals base voter cynicism, apathy for professional politicians, a preference for “fighters” over dealmakers, and broad willingness to excuse personal scandal if candidates strike the right rhetorical notes. The wild card nature of the race, fueled by voter confusion and shifting priorities, underscores why Texas remains both a crucial case study and an electoral puzzle heading into 2026.