Former Vice President Mike Pence declined on Sunday to publicly endorse Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, avoiding direct questions about the Texas attorney general’s legal controversies while arguing that the Republican Party has moved away from its traditional conservative roots.

During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Pence said the GOP has increasingly embraced populism, protectionist trade policies, and a more isolationist approach to foreign affairs, developments he believes have distanced the party from what he described as its historic conservative values.

“In many respects, Republicans have lost our way,” Pence said.

Pence Avoids Direct Endorsement of Paxton

When repeatedly asked whether he supports Paxton’s Senate candidacy, Pence declined to give a direct answer. Instead, he focused his criticism on Democratic nominee James Talarico, describing the Texas state representative as part of the political left.

“If I was voting in Texas, I could never vote for the Democrat nominee Talarico,” Pence said, calling him “radical left.”

The comments come as Republicans seek to unite behind Paxton following his decisive runoff victory over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn last week. The exchange underscored ongoing tensions within the Republican Party between traditional conservatives and the MAGA movement, which has gained significant influence under President Donald Trump. Although Pence stopped short of criticizing Paxton, he said the attorney general’s victory was not unexpected, citing Trump’s endorsement as evidence of the president’s continued sway over Republican voters. Pence served as Trump’s vice president from 2017 to 2021.

Pence Criticizes Proposed Compensation Fund

Pence also broke with Trump on a Justice Department proposal to create a $1.8 billion compensation fund for individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the government.

Calling the proposal “a bad idea from the start,” Pence urged the administration to abandon the plan.

Looking ahead to November, Pence predicted Republicans would retain control of the Senate and said the party has a strong chance of holding the House of Representatives, attributing that outlook to what he described as growing Democratic extremism.

Beshear Says Democrats Have Opening in Texas

Appearing on the same program, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear argued that Democrats have a unique opportunity to compete for the Texas Senate seat because of the controversies that have surrounded Paxton for years.

“Texas is in play,” Beshear said. “Democrats have never run against a candidate like Ken Paxton that is so corrupt that his own party impeached him.”

Beshear, widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, praised Talarico for focusing his campaign on reducing costs for families and addressing everyday economic concerns. At the same time, he accused Paxton of seeking personal gain through public office and suggested the Republican nominee would closely align with the president’s agenda.

Paxton’s Controversies Remain Central Issue

Throughout the Republican primary campaign, Cornyn argued that Paxton was unfit for office and could become a liability in the general election.

The senator highlighted several issues, including Paxton’s 2015 securities fraud indictment, his impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023, and a highly publicized divorce case in which his wife accused him of adultery.

Following his runoff defeat, Cornyn shared the well-known fable of a frog carrying a scorpion across a river, only to be stung midway through the journey, resulting in the downfall of both. Cornyn did not explain the meaning of the post, leaving observers to speculate whether it reflected his views on Trump, Paxton, or the broader direction of the Republican Party.