President Donald Trump officially endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday, shaking up the competitive Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate and putting himself at odds with party leadership.
Paxton is challenging four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a high-stakes May 26 runoff election. The two advanced to the head-to-head matchup after a March 3 primary, where Representative Wesley Hunt finished third.
Trump announced his decision on social media, writing: “Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate.” Trump added that while Cornyn is “a good man,” he “was not supportive of me when times were tough,” noting that the incumbent was “very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination.”
Word of the endorsement reached an event in Allen, Texas, where Paxton was scheduled to speak, prompting supporters to cheer and dance.
READ: California Rep. Nancy Pelosi Drops Endorsement In Crowded Race For Her House Seat
The move comes after months of speculation. Trump previously teased a decision during a February 27 visit to Corpus Christi, acknowledging both candidates by calling them “great people” and noting “it’s going to be an interesting one.” Just before the March 3 primary, Trump told reporters he had “pretty much” decided on a candidate but held off on a formal announcement until Tuesday.
Cornyn’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the announcement. However, on Monday, Cornyn stated he believed Trump would stay out of the race completely to avoid disappointing his political base. He also argued that nominating Paxton would jeopardize the seat in November, stating that “Ken Paxton would hand it to them on a silver platter.”
The primary runoff marks a sharp stylistic and political divide within the state’s Republican party. Cornyn, a former state attorney general and state Supreme Court judge first elected to statewide office 36 years ago, holds an understated style and a judge’s temperament.
While Cornyn has backed Trump’s Washington agenda, he previously drew criticism from Trump’s circle after suggesting in 2023 that the former president’s “time has passed him by” and initially criticizing plans for a southern border wall—a project Cornyn now supports.
Establishment Republicans have rallied behind Cornyn. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, warned that “it is a strong possibility we cannot hold Texas if John Cornyn is not our nominee.” National leaders have also expressed concern that a Paxton nomination would force the party to divert financial resources to Texas that are needed for competitive Senate races in other states. Paxton was acquitted in a 2023 impeachment trial over corruption charges and reached a deal in 2024 to settle a long-running securities fraud case.
With the Republican nomination caught in a bitter and expensive battle, Democrats are preparing for the general election. The Democratic nominee, Texas State Representative James Talarico, dismissed the significance of Trump’s endorsement.
“It doesn’t matter who wins this runoff,” Talarico said in a statement. “We already know who we’re running against: the billionaire mega-donors and their corrupt political system.”
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