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Donald Trump has officially stepped into one of the most closely watched Republican battles of the election cycle, throwing his support behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state’s heated Senate runoff against longtime GOP senator John Cornyn.
The endorsement immediately reshaped the race and sent shockwaves through Senate Republicans already worried about holding onto the Texas seat in November. Trump praised Paxton as a loyal ally of the MAGA movement while openly criticizing Cornyn for not backing him strongly enough during difficult political moments.
With just days left before the runoff, the Texas Senate contest is becoming more than a local political fight. It is quickly turning into another major test of Trump’s control over the Republican Party.
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Ken Paxton has spent years as one of Texas’ most polarizing Republican figures. As the state’s attorney general, he became a favorite among many conservative voters for his close alignment with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, as per a report by The Independent.
Trump made that loyalty central to his endorsement announcement on Truth Social.
“Ken Paxton has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next United States Senator from the Great State of Texas,” Trump wrote, calling Paxton “someone who has always been extremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT.”
But Paxton’s political rise has also been surrounded by controversy. Republicans aligned with Senate leadership have repeatedly warned that his scandals could weaken the party’s chances in November.
According to the reports surrounding the race, Paxton survived investigations into alleged misuse of his office and also faced an impeachment effort led by fellow Republicans in Texas. The attorney general is additionally dealing with a highly public divorce and accusations of adultery made by his separating spouse, as per a report by The Independent and The BBC.
Despite those controversies, Paxton has continued to maintain strong support among many Republican voters in Texas, especially among Trump loyalists, as per a report by The Independent.
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Trump’s endorsement made clear that his frustration with Sen. John Cornyn centered largely on loyalty. While Trump acknowledged that Cornyn was “a good man,” he also accused the senator of failing to stand firmly behind him during key moments.
“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.
He added that Cornyn had been “very late” in endorsing his presidential campaign.
The decision marks Trump’s second major intervention against a sitting Republican senator during this election cycle. It also follows his successful efforts to help defeat Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s Republican primary.
ALSO READ: China wouldn't let Marco Rubio in, so he did something nobody in US politics has ever done
For Senate Republican leadership, the Texas endorsement created immediate panic. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and allies tied to GOP leadership had already invested millions backing Cornyn’s reelection effort.
Reports indicate Republicans connected to Senate leadership spent more than $10 million trying to strengthen Cornyn’s image while also attacking Paxton.
If Paxton wins the runoff, much of that spending could become politically useless.
Several Republican senators reacted publicly after Trump’s endorsement became official. Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters he preferred Cornyn and warned that Paxton would face a more difficult general election battle that would “cost more” for Republicans, as per a report by The New York Times.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was even more direct. “This puts that seat in jeopardy,” she said, as per a report by The New York Times.
Sen. John Hoeven also admitted disappointment, saying, “Obviously I strongly support Sen. Cornyn. I had hoped he would support or endorse Sen. Cornyn.”
Trump’s endorsement also triggered sharp reactions from several Senate Republicans who have long worked alongside Cornyn and see him as a close ally.
According to The BBC, Maine Sen. Susan Collins described Paxton as “ethically challenged,” while Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was “supremely disappointed” by the president’s decision. Despite the criticism from within his own party, Trump appeared firmly committed to backing Paxton ahead of the closely watched Texas Senate runoff.
The Texas Senate race is now drawing national attention because Republicans no longer see the seat as completely safe.
Democrats only need a small number of Senate pickups to regain control of the chamber. With Republicans currently holding a 53-47 majority, party strategists are already watching difficult GOP races in Alaska, Maine and North Carolina.
Texas is now being added to that conversation. Polling referenced in the reports showed Democratic nominee James Talarico running within low single digits against both Cornyn and Paxton.
National Republicans worry the bitter Republican-on-Republican fight could drain resources, damage party unity and weaken turnout heading into November, as per a report by The New York Times.
Some Republicans also fear the constant attacks surrounding Paxton’s scandals may hurt the GOP brand in Texas and beyond.
The Democratic Senate campaign arm quickly seized on the Republican infighting after Trump’s endorsement became public.
“Republicans are watching $100 million circle down the drain before their eyes as Donald Trump rejects their year of begging him to bail out John Cornyn,” Democratic spokesperson Maeve Coyle said in a statement.
The statement also described the Texas Republican primary as a “bitter” and “costly intraparty war.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s influence across Republican politics continues growing. Alongside his Texas endorsement, the president has also targeted Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, backing former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in an effort to remove another Republican who challenged him publicly, as per a report by The New York Times.
Though, much of the national political spotlight remains fixed on Texas, where Trump’s endorsement has transformed the Republican Senate runoff into one of the most explosive races of the year.
Why did Trump endorse Ken Paxton?
Trump praised Paxton’s loyalty to the MAGA movement and criticized John Cornyn for being slow to support him.
Why are Republicans worried about the race?
Some GOP leaders fear Paxton’s controversies could make the Texas Senate seat harder to defend in November.
The endorsement immediately reshaped the race and sent shockwaves through Senate Republicans already worried about holding onto the Texas seat in November. Trump praised Paxton as a loyal ally of the MAGA movement while openly criticizing Cornyn for not backing him strongly enough during difficult political moments.
With just days left before the runoff, the Texas Senate contest is becoming more than a local political fight. It is quickly turning into another major test of Trump’s control over the Republican Party.
ALSO READ: Nancy Guthrie case takes another twist: Why has the sheriff stopped speaking directly to Nancy Guthrie’s family? here's what you need to know
Who is Ken Paxton and why is he controversial?
Ken Paxton has spent years as one of Texas’ most polarizing Republican figures. As the state’s attorney general, he became a favorite among many conservative voters for his close alignment with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, as per a report by The Independent.
Trump made that loyalty central to his endorsement announcement on Truth Social.
“Ken Paxton has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next United States Senator from the Great State of Texas,” Trump wrote, calling Paxton “someone who has always been extremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT.”
But Paxton’s political rise has also been surrounded by controversy. Republicans aligned with Senate leadership have repeatedly warned that his scandals could weaken the party’s chances in November.
According to the reports surrounding the race, Paxton survived investigations into alleged misuse of his office and also faced an impeachment effort led by fellow Republicans in Texas. The attorney general is additionally dealing with a highly public divorce and accusations of adultery made by his separating spouse, as per a report by The Independent and The BBC.
Despite those controversies, Paxton has continued to maintain strong support among many Republican voters in Texas, especially among Trump loyalists, as per a report by The Independent.
ALSO READ: Fidelity Investments data breach settlement with up to $5,000 compensation for affected customers- here's who can file a claim
Why did Donald Trump turn against John Cornyn?
Trump’s endorsement made clear that his frustration with Sen. John Cornyn centered largely on loyalty. While Trump acknowledged that Cornyn was “a good man,” he also accused the senator of failing to stand firmly behind him during key moments.
“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.
He added that Cornyn had been “very late” in endorsing his presidential campaign.
The decision marks Trump’s second major intervention against a sitting Republican senator during this election cycle. It also follows his successful efforts to help defeat Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s Republican primary.
ALSO READ: China wouldn't let Marco Rubio in, so he did something nobody in US politics has ever done
Will his endorsement cost Republicans the seat?
For Senate Republican leadership, the Texas endorsement created immediate panic. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and allies tied to GOP leadership had already invested millions backing Cornyn’s reelection effort.
Reports indicate Republicans connected to Senate leadership spent more than $10 million trying to strengthen Cornyn’s image while also attacking Paxton.
If Paxton wins the runoff, much of that spending could become politically useless.
Several Republican senators reacted publicly after Trump’s endorsement became official. Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters he preferred Cornyn and warned that Paxton would face a more difficult general election battle that would “cost more” for Republicans, as per a report by The New York Times.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was even more direct. “This puts that seat in jeopardy,” she said, as per a report by The New York Times.
Sen. John Hoeven also admitted disappointment, saying, “Obviously I strongly support Sen. Cornyn. I had hoped he would support or endorse Sen. Cornyn.”
Trump’s endorsement also triggered sharp reactions from several Senate Republicans who have long worked alongside Cornyn and see him as a close ally.
According to The BBC, Maine Sen. Susan Collins described Paxton as “ethically challenged,” while Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was “supremely disappointed” by the president’s decision. Despite the criticism from within his own party, Trump appeared firmly committed to backing Paxton ahead of the closely watched Texas Senate runoff.
Could Democrats actually flip the Texas Senate seat?
The Texas Senate race is now drawing national attention because Republicans no longer see the seat as completely safe.
Democrats only need a small number of Senate pickups to regain control of the chamber. With Republicans currently holding a 53-47 majority, party strategists are already watching difficult GOP races in Alaska, Maine and North Carolina.
Texas is now being added to that conversation. Polling referenced in the reports showed Democratic nominee James Talarico running within low single digits against both Cornyn and Paxton.
National Republicans worry the bitter Republican-on-Republican fight could drain resources, damage party unity and weaken turnout heading into November, as per a report by The New York Times.
Some Republicans also fear the constant attacks surrounding Paxton’s scandals may hurt the GOP brand in Texas and beyond.
The Democratic Senate campaign arm quickly seized on the Republican infighting after Trump’s endorsement became public.
“Republicans are watching $100 million circle down the drain before their eyes as Donald Trump rejects their year of begging him to bail out John Cornyn,” Democratic spokesperson Maeve Coyle said in a statement.
The statement also described the Texas Republican primary as a “bitter” and “costly intraparty war.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s influence across Republican politics continues growing. Alongside his Texas endorsement, the president has also targeted Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, backing former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in an effort to remove another Republican who challenged him publicly, as per a report by The New York Times.
Though, much of the national political spotlight remains fixed on Texas, where Trump’s endorsement has transformed the Republican Senate runoff into one of the most explosive races of the year.
FAQs
Why did Trump endorse Ken Paxton?
Trump praised Paxton’s loyalty to the MAGA movement and criticized John Cornyn for being slow to support him.
Why are Republicans worried about the race?
Some GOP leaders fear Paxton’s controversies could make the Texas Senate seat harder to defend in November.
