WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid for the U.S. Senate, dealing a significant blow to Senator John Cornyn and to Senate Republican leaders who had urged the president to support the incumbent.
Trump's Endorsement
“Ken Paxton has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next United States Senator from the Great State of Texas – KEN PAXTON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump posted Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Paxton and Cornyn have been competing for Trump’s support for months. The endorsement is highly coveted, especially in a state where Trump won by 14 percentage points in 2024. Both candidates have aligned themselves with the president, but Paxton has campaigned to the right of Cornyn, portraying himself as a more devoted Trump loyalist. This strategy appears to have paid off.
Primary Runoff
The two will face each other in a primary runoff scheduled for May 26. Cornyn indicated Monday that he did not expect to receive Trump’s endorsement. “I think that ship has finally sailed,” he told local reporters after casting his ballot in Austin during early voting.
President Trump endorsed Paxton, a move that could reshape the Texas Senate race. Democrats, who have nominated state Representative James Talarico, are likely eager to challenge Paxton in November. Unlike Cornyn, Paxton has a history of scandal that makes him a more vulnerable target. The GOP may be forced to spend tens of millions of dollars to defend a Senate seat that has historically been safe.
Political Implications
Cornyn has served in the Senate since 2002. After the first round of primary voting, in which neither candidate secured 50% of the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) publicly appealed to Trump to back Cornyn. “If the president can weigh in, it would be enormously helpful,” Thune told reporters in March, following Cornyn’s narrow lead over Paxton in the initial round.
The president has teased his endorsement in this race for months. He has also stated that whoever does not receive his endorsement should withdraw from the race. This development adds a new layer of complexity to the Texas Senate race, with potential repercussions for the Republican Party's strategy in the upcoming elections.
