Former President Donald Trump (right) shakes hands with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at an October 2022 rally in Robstown, Texas.
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Former President Donald Trump (right) shakes hands with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at an October 2022 rally in Robstown, Texas.
Nick Wagner/AP
President Trump has thrown his support behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas GOP runoff for the U.S. Senate, favoring him over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. This endorsement comes just a week before the conclusion of voting in this heated and costly primary race.
“Ken Paxton has endured a lot, often unfairly, yet he is a fighter who knows how to win,” Trump expressed on social media. “Our country needs fighters, along with unwavering loyalty to the cause of greatness,” he added in his post.
Trump’s decision to back Paxton at this late stage aims to bring the race to a close after a vigorous battle in a state Democrats see as a potential target for a November win.
Analysis: Why the Cornyn-Paxton runoff could be a ‘nightmare scenario’ for Republicans | TPR
Both Cornyn, Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt sought Trump’s endorsement before the primary election. However, Trump initially refrained from endorsing any candidate, expressing his appreciation for all three.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks on the fourth day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
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Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks on the fourth day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images
Paxton criticized Cornyn for being out of touch with Trump’s MAGA supporters and the Republican Party’s direction. Meanwhile, Cornyn’s team pointed to several controversies surrounding Paxton, such as his wife’s divorce filing on “biblical grounds,” a securities fraud felony indictment that was eventually resolved, and a 2023 impeachment vote from which he was acquitted.
The Texas Senate primary is on track to be the most expensive in U.S. history, with both parties already spending over $100 million combined. Democrats are keen to exploit Trump’s unpopularity to gain Republican-held Senate seats.
State Rep. James Talarico secured the Democratic nomination outright, defeating Rep. Jasmine Crockett and another contender.
“As I said on primary night, the real opponent isn’t who wins this runoff. It’s the billionaire mega-donors and their corrupt political system,” Talarico remarked in response to Trump’s endorsement of Paxton. “Our movement to reclaim Texas for working people transcends party politics because the biggest battle isn’t left versus right, it’s top versus bottom.”
Following the primary, Trump took to Truth Social, urging that the runoff “MUST STOP NOW” to allow Republicans to concentrate on facing Talarico in the November election. He insisted that candidates lacking his endorsement should “immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE.”
“My Endorsements within the Republican Party have been virtually insurmountable!” Trump declared. “It is such an honor to realize and say that almost everyone I Endorse WINS, and wins by a lot, especially in Texas!”
In the March 3 primaries across Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas, all but five of Trump’s endorsed candidates emerged victorious or faced no opposition. Embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales was the only one who did not finish first.
Over the weekend, Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow and Louisiana state treasurer John Fleming secured spots in a runoff for the state’s U.S. Senate race, ousting Sen. Bill Cassidy. Trump is also engaged in Tuesday’s primary in Kentucky, where Thomas Massie, a Republican who has previously clashed with Trump, is competing against Ed Gallrein.
