Republican cavalry arrives for Ken Paxton as big-bucks Texas offensive opens cash floodgates

FIRST ON FOX: Top Senate Republicans are unleashing millions of dollars into Texas to ensure that the GOP holds on to the seat as the midterm elections close in.

The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on Friday announced the launch of the Texas PAC, unlocking a war chest of campaign funds to ensure Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wins out in November.

Paxton is in a tight race against Texas State Rep.

James Talarico, who has become a prime target for Republicans who argue that the state lawmaker is too progressive for deep red Texas.

THUNE-ALIGNED GROUPS UNLEASH HISTORIC WAR CHEST TO DEFEND SENATE MAJORITY: 'WINNING MESSAGE' "As the Democrat Party gets pulled further to the left, extreme candidates like James Talarico are becoming the norm," Thune told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"Republicans are united in keeping him out of the U.S.

Senate, which is why I’m proud of the work the Senate Leadership Fund is doing to ensure Texas stays red." A source familiar told Fox News Digital that during the convention’s final day on Thursday, Thune attended a fundraiser for Paxton to help boost his campaign.

The new PAC will launch an initial eight-figure ad buy on Friday, the day after the GOP's first ever midterm convention in Dallas concluded.

The group tells Fox News Digital they plan to run ads continuously through Election Day in Texas, and the first two will paint Paxton in a positive light , with another showing the contrast between the candidates as it spotlighted the state lawmaker's past controversial comments and votes.

LONGTIME GOP AIDE DEFECTS TO DEM RISING STAR AS TEXAS SENATE BATTLE FOR CORNYN'S SEAT HEATS UP While the convention was used to energize President Donald Trump’s base to get out and vote in tight contests across the country, the Texas Senate race was of particular emphasis.

And the flow of cash to support Paxton marks a pivot for the Senate Republican leadership, who earlier in the year, threw their full support behind Sen.

John Cornyn, R-Texas.

But Trump’s endorsement of Paxton over Cornyn ultimately ended the longtime lawmaker’s bid and set up a messy period of making amends after the dust settled in their runoff race.

Now, Republicans are showing a unified front and working to help Paxton financially as he tries to stave off Talarico.