Cruz predicts $200M fight in Texas Senate as Abbott backs Paxton

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says the closely watched Senate race in Texas will be a $200 million fight, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says the choice will be easy for Texas voters come November.

Cruz appeared on "CBS Mornings" and spoke with Major Garrett on Aug. 24, saying he thinks Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will win the seat over Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, but not without a real fight.

"Ken Paxton just came out of a rough primary," Cruz said. "When you face that many attack ads, you're a little bit bruised. I mean, that's just the nature of politics. Talarico did not really have a primary," he added.

In March, Talarico faced U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary and secured the party's nomination, avoiding a runoff.

Paxton, meanwhile, defeated U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in a hotly contested May runoff after neither secured the nomination outright in the March Republican primary. Cornyn has held the seat for more than two decades.

Cruz said he has seen polling showing that voters disagree with what Talarico has to say, while also noting that Talarico would be a "great candidate in California," but not one for Texas.

Recent August polling shows the Texas Senate race is a statistical tie, with Talarico holding a slight nominal lead. The Cook Political Report and Fox News on Aug. 20 moved the Texas Senate race from Republican-leaning to the toss-up category.

Cruz's remarks follow Abbott's appearance on ABC News' "This Week" with Jonathan Karl on Aug. 23, in which he said it doesn't matter what is happening in August. November is where it really counts.

"Elections are about choices, and when voters go to make a choice on November the third, the contrast they will see between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is so extraordinary that choice is going to be easy, and they'll be voting for Ken Paxton and they'll be voting against James Talarico," Abbott said.

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at [email protected].