Donald Trump threw his decisive endorsement behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's Republican Senate runoff, effectively siding against four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in what could reshape the race ahead of a May 26 matchup.
Trump's backing came as a significant reversal from earlier signals. On Truth Social, the former president praised Paxton as a "true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas," while describing Cornyn as a capable ally who ultimately failed to stand by him during difficult times. "John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough," Trump wrote.
The endorsement landed after early voting in the runoff had already begun, capping weeks of uncertainty about where Trump would direct his influence. Cornyn narrowly led the March primary field with 42 percent to Paxton's 41 percent, falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. The winner will face Democrat James Talarico in November.
Paxton quickly signaled his enthusiasm, posting that he was "incredibly honored" by Trump's support and pledged to champion an "America First agenda" in the Senate. Campaign operatives credited improved polling numbers and the circulation of Cornyn's past criticisms of Trump as factors that swayed the endorsement decision. Steve Bannon, a Trump confidant who backed Paxton, noted that the candidate's campaign had shared internal polling showing him ahead and that Trump allies worked to highlight Cornyn's previous negative comments about the president.
The endorsement carried substantial weight. Trump's influence in Republican primaries remains potent, as evidenced by the recent loss of Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who faced Trump-backed challenger Julia Letrow just days earlier. Political observers view Trump's backing as potentially decisive in the Texas contest.
Cornyn's position has weakened considerably. The senator built his pitch around electability, arguing that his record and broader appeal gave Republicans the best chance to hold a red-state Senate seat without damaging other GOP candidates on the Texas ballot. He warned after the primary that Paxton's personal and professional controversies posed too great a risk. "I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we've worked so hard to build," Cornyn said.
Those controversies are substantial. Paxton faced impeachment in 2023 on bribery and corruption charges, though the state Senate acquitted him. His wife announced last year that she was divorcing him on "biblical grounds." Cornyn and his supporters have emphasized that the embattled attorney general creates vulnerabilities heading into the general election against Talarico.
Senate leadership, including Majority Leader John Thune and other Republicans, urged Trump to back Cornyn as the safer choice. Bannon characterized the Trump move differently. "This is as much a vote of no confidence in John Thune as it is a vote of confidence in Ken Paxton," he said, reflecting broader friction between Trump and Senate GOP leaders.
Trump had appeared ready to endorse Cornyn after the March primary but conditioned his support on passage of the SAVE America Act, a voting overhaul measure. Paxton signaled willingness to help eliminate the 60-vote filibuster threshold if it advanced Trump's legislative agenda, a position that ultimately helped secure the endorsement.
The timing also mattered. Trump told NBC News in mid-March that he viewed both candidates as capable of winning in November, calling Talarico "so weak." But momentum shifted as Paxton positioned himself as Trump's most authentic ally in the race, with supporters drawing parallels between the attorney general's legal battles and Trump's own impeachments and indictments.
Paxton built his campaign narrative around unwavering loyalty. He criticized Cornyn's work on a bipartisan gun safety bill following mass shootings, including the Uvalde elementary school tragedy, and repeatedly cited Cornyn's past skepticism of Trump, including comments in 2023 that the former president's "time has passed him by." While Cornyn eventually endorsed Trump for 2024, the damage proved lasting in the Republican primary electorate.
One concern looms for Republicans nationwide. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that the Texas race could become "three times more expensive" for the GOP if Paxton becomes the nominee, a reflection of concerns that his candidacy could drag down other Republicans in a state where Trump remains popular but general election dynamics differ.
The runoff now enters its final stretch with Trump's weight decisively behind Paxton, fundamentally altering a race that seemed Cornyn's to lose just weeks earlier. Whether that endorsement proves sufficient to overcome Cornyn's fund-raising advantages and organizational machinery will become clear on May 26.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Trump's endorsement settles this race in Paxton's favor, but it signals something larger: loyalty to Trump now matters more to Republican primary voters than electability concerns or institutional experience."
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