# Young Texas Mayor Struggles to Support Paxton

> Erik Gomez, 26, faces tough choices after Republican primary loss in Sabinal.
- Title: Young Texas Mayor Struggles to Support Paxton · Texastribune
- Summary: Erik Gomez, 26, faces tough choices after Republican primary loss in Sabinal. Erik Gomez, the youngest mayor in Texas, is trying to support Ken Paxton after…
- Keywords: erik gomez, sabinal, ken paxton, john cornyn, texas, republican primary, mayor, latino, political campaign, national night out, news, local
- Source: Texastribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17511971/texas-sabinal-mayor-erik-gomez-latino-young-paxton-cornyn
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: erik gomez, sabinal, ken paxton, john cornyn, texas, republican primary, mayor, latino, political campaign, national night out, news, local
## Erik Gomez's political rise
Erik Gomez, 26, became Texas's youngest mayor after winning a local election in May 2026.
## Gomez supports Cornyn campaign
Gomez helped U.S. Sen. John Cornyn win the Republican primary against Attorney General Ken Paxton.
## Cornyn's primary loss
Cornyn lost the Republican primary to Paxton by a 27-point margin in May 2026.
## Gomez's dilemma
Gomez wants to support Paxton but has not yet decided how to vote in the general election.
## Latino voter bloc
Latino Texans are a key Republican voting bloc in Texas with conservative leanings.
## Paxton's scandals
Paxton faced impeachment over allegations of abusing his office as Texas attorney general.
## Gomez's campaign efforts
Gomez secured a $50,000 grant to fix a playground in Sabinal after becoming mayor.
## National Night Out event
Gomez hosted a National Night Out event with raffles for toys and bikes in Sabinal.
## Gomez's political identity
Gomez identifies as a lifelong Republican but has seen many friends vote for Democrats.
## Republican unity challenge
Top Republicans tried to unite behind Paxton but faced internal divisions over his leadership.
## Gomez's stance on racism
Gomez criticized Republicans for not condemning racist social media posts by Bo French.
## Gomez's vote for French's opponent
Gomez voted for Jon Rosenthal, the opponent of Bo French, in the Republican primary.
## Gomez's political future
Gomez remains a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott.
## Latino voter concerns
Latino voters are concerned about high costs, immigration policies, and economic issues.
## Gomez's political challenges
Gomez faces challenges with limited funds to fix potholes and other town infrastructure.
## Gomez's political identity
Gomez considers himself a moderate Republican focused on affordability and safety.
## Key takeaway

Erik Gomez, the youngest mayor in Texas, is trying to support Ken Paxton after losing his primary to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.