A Republican-aligned group in Travis County, Texas, has become deeply divided following internal disputes over party loyalty and support for candidates in the upcoming U.S.Senate race.

The controversy intensified after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton emerged as the GOP nominee, triggering frustration among some local Republicans who oppose him.

According to reporting from the Austin American-Statesman, an unofficial Facebook group associated with the Travis County Republican Party has been forced to remove and block dozens of members after they posted messages expressing support for Democratic candidate James Talarico.

Travis County, which includes Austin, is one of the most reliably Democratic areas in Texas, though it still contains a significant number of Republican voters.

Within the online forum of approximately 3,600 members, internal moderators reportedly took action against more than 100 users identified as “Democrats, Progressives, and assorted Socialists” who were engaging in pro-Talarico commentary.

A group member, Andy Hogue, stated that individuals expressing support for Talarico were being removed or suspended to maintain the group’s Republican identity.

The conflict reflects broader tensions within the Texas GOP, particularly following a contentious primary battle between Paxton and incumbent Senator John Cornyn.That race exposed ideological rifts over alignment with MAGA politics and concerns about Paxton’s controversial legal and political history.

Some members of the Travis County group argued that dissatisfied Republicans should either remain silent or abstain from voting in the Senate race rather than publicly support a Democratic candidate.

The incident highlights growing fragmentation within local Republican organizations as national and state-level party divisions increasingly influence grassroots political communities in Texas.