ALLEN, Texas (AP) — President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday, amplifying his campaign to unseat incumbent Senator John Cornyn in a Republican primary runoff. In a social media post, Trump described Paxton as a “true MAGA Warrior” who has consistently delivered results for Texas and expressed confidence in his ability to continue this work in the United States Senate.
Following the announcement of Trump’s endorsement, Paxton's supporters were seen celebrating at an event in Allen, Texas, dancing to “YMCA,” a song identified with Trump’s campaign. Both Paxton and Cornyn advanced to the runoff election scheduled for May 26 after competing in a primary held on March 3, in which Rep. Wesley Hunt finished third and did not qualify for the runoff.
While four-term Senator Cornyn has supported Trump’s agenda in Washington, Paxton positions himself as a champion of the Make America Great Again movement. Trump’s endorsement creates a rift with the party establishment, which believes Cornyn would be a stronger candidate in the general election against Democrat nominee Texas State Rep. James Talarico.
In response to the endorsement, Talarico stated, “It doesn’t matter who wins this runoff. We already know who we’re running against: the billionaire mega-donors and their corrupt political system.” Cornyn's campaign did not provide immediate comments. The senator previously expressed his belief that Trump would not endorse anyone in the runoff, noting the importance of maintaining support from parts of Trump’s political base.
Cornyn has argued that Paxton may be a liability for Republicans in the general election, suggesting that his nomination could facilitate a Democratic victory. Trump, however, claimed in his social media post that while Cornyn is “a good man,” he did not support him at crucial moments during his presidential campaign. Trump criticized Cornyn for being late to endorse him during what became a pivotal run for the Republican nomination.
The looming runoff between Cornyn and Paxton is expected to be a contentious and costly affair, potentially distracting resources from other essential races across the country. Trump had previously frustrated some Republican allies by withholding his endorsement until after the initial primary, indicating the prevalence of backdoor discussions encouraging him to support Paxton.
Trump’s relationship with Cornyn has not always been smooth. The senator was one of the early critics of Trump’s border wall plan and, in 2023, suggested Trump’s chances for a successful 2024 candidacy were limited, indicating that “his time has passed him by.” Despite their varied approaches, Cornyn has maintained robust connections with Republican leadership in the Senate, including Tim Scott, who cautioned that failing to nominate Cornyn could jeopardize the party’s hold on the significant Texas seat.
Lastly, concerns have emerged among party leaders regarding the potential need for increased financial resources to defend the Senate seat if Paxton wins the nomination. Paxton was acquitted in a recent impeachment trial over corruption charges and resolved a longstanding securities fraud case earlier this year, contributing to mixed feelings about his viability as a candidate in the broader electoral context.
Trump fueled the competitive atmosphere regarding the race in February, acknowledging both candidates during a speech in Corpus Christi, prompting speculation about his eventual support.
