By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a pointed appearance on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) questioned the Republican strategy in Texas. With early voting for the March 3 primary now underway, Fetterman argued that the lack of a clear endorsement from President Trump is leaving Senator John Cornyn vulnerable and potentially putting the seat “in play” for Democrats.
Fetterman’s comments come as the Texas Republican primary has devolved into a three-way “nasty battle” between the incumbent Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
The GOP Primary: Trump “Supports All Three”
Despite pressure from establishment Republicans to unify behind Cornyn, President Trump has so far refused to take a side.
- The Trump Factor: On Monday night, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I like all three of them… they’ve all supported me, they’re all good and you’re supposed to pick one. So we’ll see what happens, but I support all three.”
- The Polling Split: Recent data from the University of Houston shows Ken Paxton leading with 38%, followed by Cornyn at 31% and Hunt at 17%.
- The Fetterman Critique: Fetterman noted that while Cornyn is a “reasonable Republican” and usually “money in the bank” for the GOP, the current infighting creates a “backlash” opportunity. “I don’t know why… the Republicans and the president wouldn’t sit on that and just lock down Texas,” Fetterman said.
Internal Strife: “The Rot in the Democratic Party”
While critiquing the GOP, Fetterman also took a flamethrower to his own party’s progressive wing, specifically targeting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Fetterman labeled Ocasio-Cortez as “part of the rot” in the Democratic Party due to her criticism of Israel. His comments followed her appearance at the Munich Security Conference last weekend, where she suggested U.S. aid should be conditioned to prevent what she termed “genocide” in Gaza.
“I refuse to pander to the part of my Democratic Party that finds that there’s value in being anti-Israel… effectively what that’s really become on college campuses and places is just antisemitism.” — John Fetterman (Feb 17, 2026)
Texas 2026: Key Candidate Snapshots
| Candidate | Party | Current Standing / Conflict |
| John Cornyn | GOP | Incumbent; backed by Rick Perry and Senate leadership; faces “RINO” labels from rivals. |
| Ken Paxton | GOP | Leading in primary polls; running as a MAGA firebrand; dogged by ongoing legal/personal scandals. |
| Jasmine Crockett | Dem | Leading Democratic polls (47%); seen as a rising star but facing a “viral” surge from Talarico. |
| James Talarico | Dem | Running “neck-and-neck” (39%); recently gained national attention after a blocked Colbert interview went viral. |
The “Uphill Battle” to Retake the Senate
Fetterman offered a candid assessment of the 2026 landscape, predicting a “House flip” back to Democratic control but remaining skeptical about the Senate. He suggested that while states like Texas are “in flux” because of GOP disunity, the structural advantage for Republicans in the upper chamber remains a significant hurdle.