"You shouldn't have to have a son in the NFL to own a home. Everything's backwards," said Allred in his Senate race announcement video.

Paxton’s GOP primary opponent, Sen. John Cornyn, has yet to release his fundraising numbers but is starting with a deeper campaign war chest.

The contest coincides with the state’s November uniform election, when voters across Texas will already be at the polls to decide local offices and ballot measures.

President Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Wednesday evening to talk about Senate races, including Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) fraught primary against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R),

According to a poll released by the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin last month, 17 percent of Texans said political corruption is the biggest problem facing the state.

Paxton's wife said Thursday she is filing for divorce "on biblical grounds," ending their 38-year marriage. Paxton's lead highlights deep fractures within Texas' GOP base and signals that Cornyn could face one of his toughest political fights.