\n<\/p>\n
Supporters of Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) were divided by the news of Attorney General Pam Bondi\u2019s ouster over whether Paxton should be considered for the national job or should remain in the fight to replace John Cornyn.<\/p>\n
Paxton is currently in a heated Republican runoff with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, with President Donald Trump yet to issue an endorsement ahead of the May 26 contest. If Paxton were to be tapped for a national position and drop out of the race, it would effectively clear the field for Cornyn and set the general election matchup against Democrat James Talarico.<\/p>\n
The Daily Wire could not confirm whether Paxton is actually being considered. Other names circulating in Republican circles include EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, DOJ Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO).<\/p>\n
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet also floated Paxton\u2019s name, alongside others like Zeldin, Dhillon, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought.<\/p>\n
Kolvet said the next individual has \u201cto be ruthless and smart and impossible to distract or slow down.\u201d The spokesman for the conservative group said that he\u2019s been told that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who was Trump\u2019s withdrawn pick for the role last year, is not \u201cpursuing\u201d the job.<\/p>\n
\nWith Bondi departing, I have a few people in mind to be the next AG, who\u2019s your pick?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Harmeet Dhillon
\u2022 Lee Zeldin
\u2022 Ken Paxton
\u2022 Jeanine Pirro
\u2022 Ron DeSantis
\u2022 Russ Vought (but he\u2019s great at OMB)<\/p>\nHas to be ruthless and smart and impossible to distract or slow down.\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2014 Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) April 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Online speculation intensified following posts from conservative commentators and political observers, many of whom argued<\/a> Paxton would have a greater impact as attorney general than as a U.S. senator.<\/p>\n
\u201cBondi is OUT,\u201d conservative influencer \u201cRed Eagle Politics\u201d<\/a> posted to X on Thursday. \u201cKen Paxton should be our next AG. He can make a massive impact in that role, whereas in the Senate he would just be one vote out of 100.\u201d<\/p>\n
The prediction market Kalshi<\/a> gives Paxton roughly a 4% chance of becoming Trump\u2019s nominee, compared to 57% for Zeldin and 31% for interim Attorney General Todd Blanche.<\/p>\n
One X post from Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olohan listed several names being discussed:<\/p>\n
\nPeople close to the White House are throwing around a lot of names for the next attorney general. Here\u2019s a few of the names I\u2019ve had mentioned to me today:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mike Lee
\u2013 Harmeet Dhillon
\u2013 Ashley Moody
\u2013 Lee Zeldin
\u2013 Eric Schmitt<\/p>\n\u2014 Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) April 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Others pointed out that the brutal nature of the primary, which has highlighted Paxton\u2019s past personal and professional controversies, could complicate the potential confirmation process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s a non-zero chance Trump tries to replace Pam Bondi with Texas\u2019s Ken Paxton and rams the vote through an otherwise hesitant Senate by promising that since Cornyn would then become the TX Senate nominee, odds to keep the chamber go up,\u201d Michigan State University policy professor Josh Cowen<\/a> wrote on X.<\/p>\n
Some conservatives pushed back on the Paxton buzz, saying<\/a> he should remain in the Senate race to challenge Cornyn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch for the horse trading to put Ken Paxton up for AG thus making Cornyn the senator from Texas again,\u201d conservative commentator Chad Caton<\/a> wrote. \u201cTHIS CANT HAPPEN. We must rid ourselves of the power and influence that John Cornyn wields. Ken Paxton must be the next Senator from Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Democrats also suggested that Paxton could be the pick to take on the top law enforcement role in the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cDepending on how low he wants to go, I figure he goes with Ken Paxton to replace Bondi. Who is scummier than him? Plus he clears the field in Texas for Cornyn,\u201d Democratic activist Paul Jacobs<\/a> posted to X.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy prediction: with Pam Bondi out, Ken Paxton is next up. Yes, Texas\u2019 scandal-ridden AG who\u2019s currently tripping his way through a primary runoff against John Cornyn,\u201d former liberal political strategist Shea Jordan Smith<\/a> wrote on Facebook. \u201cThey\u2019d much rather send Cornyn into a general election than take a chance on Paxton, who\u2019s radioactive enough to turn a winnable race into a problem\u2026 especially with James Talarico on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Daily Wire reached out to the Paxton campaign for comment. The Cornyn campaign declined to comment.<\/p>\n
When asked about Bondi\u2019s status, the White House pointed to a Truth Social post<\/a> from Trump praising her for doing \u201ca tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n