President Donald Trump backs Ken Paxton in high-stakes Republican U.S. Senate runoff

HOUSTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, supercharging his effort to oust incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in next week’s runoff.

“Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate,” Trump wrote on social media.

News of the endorsement broke during a Paxton campaign event, drawing cheers from supporters who began dancing to “YMCA,” a Trump campaign anthem.

“I have so much respect for the president and appreciate so much his endorsement,” Paxton said at the event in Allen, Texas.

Paxton and Cornyn advanced to a May 26 runoff after finishing as the top vote-getters in a March 3 primary in which no candidate won a majority. Early voting started Monday and continues through Friday.

Trump’s endorsement is the latest of several he has handed out in Republican primaries in an attempt to cull the GOP of those who’ve opposed him. Recent successes have emboldened Trump, including the defeats of Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana and Indiana state senators who opposed him on redistricting.

He also picked and endorsed a challenger to Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie in Tuesday’s primary. Massie’s push to release the Epstein files and his vocal opposition to the Iran war have grated on Trump, whose support for Ed Gallrein is making this reelection campaign Massie’s most challenging yet.

Although the four-term Cornyn has backed Trump’s agenda in Washington, Paxton pitched himself as a political warrior for the Make America Great Again movement. Trump’s endorsement puts him at odds with his party’s establishment, which is convinced that Cornyn is the better candidate for November’s general election. The Republican nominee will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.

In a post on X after Trump’s endorsement, Cornyn emphasized his closeness to Trump, saying he voted with him “99% of the time” and that the president has “consistently called me a friend in this race.”

Cornyn then leaned into an argument he’s repeated on the campaign trail: that in November’s general election against Talarico, Paxton will be “a weak nominee who jeopardizes everything we care about.”

Talarico said in a statement that “it doesn’t matter who wins this runoff. We already know who we’re running against: the billionaire megadonors and their corrupt political system.”

Trump, in his social media post, said Cornyn was “a good man,” but “he was not supportive of me when times were tough.” He complained that “John was very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination.”

The runoff between Cornyn and Paxton has been a bitter and expensive battle for the future of the Republican Party, and one that was diverting resources from other competitive races elsewhere in the country.

Cornyn’s campaign organizations and allied super PACs have been vastly outspending Paxton on advertising since last year, the overwhelming majority of which has been dedicated to attacking Paxton. This week, Cornyn’s campaign and groups supporting it will have spent more than $87 million on advertising, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact, including more than $18.5 million since the March 3 primary.

Paxton’s campaign groups and a single super PAC have spent a fraction of what pro-Cornyn groups have, combining to spend a total of $9.2 million on advertising, about $4.9 million since the primary election on March 3.

Senate Republicans left a luncheon lamenting Trump’s decision and its implications for Cornyn. GOP leaders have worried publicly that Republicans will have to spend millions more in a general election if Paxton is the nominee.

“I’m sad, I’m actually sad,” said Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis, adding that she believed Cornyn had a better chance of winning the general election.

“Now it’ll just cost us a fortune,” she said.

The endorsement excited supporters at Paxton’s event on Tuesday. Caroline Zadeh said it was an “awesome thing” and that she trusts “Trump to do the right thing.”

“We’ve had Cornyn in the office for quite a while,” she said of her frustrations with the senator, and “a lot of controversy between him and Trump’s administration.” In the other camp, Bennie Newman, 84, said he voted for Cornyn on Tuesday before hearing of the endorsement, which came as “a surprise” and “a disappointment.”

Newman supports Trump, but he still would’ve voted for Cornyn because he “has almost been impeccable in terms of his reputation,” he said. Referencing some of Paxton’s scandals, he said that the attorney general would be a weaker candidate against Talarico in November’s general election.

Trump has had an at-times cool relationship with Cornyn, notably after the senator suggested in 2023 that Trump could not win the presidency again in 2024 and that his “time has passed him by.”

Cornyn also was an early critic of Trump’s plan for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico — a project he now supports.

A former state attorney general and state Supreme Court judge, Cornyn was first elected to statewide office 36 years ago. His understated style and judge’s temperament contrast with the fiery rhetoric of Trump and his Make America Great Again movement.

Cornyn has had support from Senate Republican leadership, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who warned that “it is a strong possibility we cannot hold Texas if John Cornyn is not our nominee.”

Some Republican leaders have worried the party will need to spend much more money to defend the seat if Paxton is the nominee — money they could be spending on Senate races in more competitive states. Paxton was acquitted in a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges. He also reached a deal in 2024 to end a long-running securities fraud case.

While Trump’s approval ratings have slumped among Americans overall, he has shown the ability to sway GOP primary voters.

In Indiana, Trump’s endorsement helped dislodge five of the seven Republican state senators who were seeking reelection in the May 5 primary after they voted in December against the White House-backed redistricting plan to give Republicans an advantage in U.S. House races.

On Saturday, Cassidy finished third in Louisiana, therefore out of the running in the June 27 runoff for the Republican nomination to the seat he has held for two terms. The Trump-endorsed candidate, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, finished first ahead of state Treasurer John Fleming and both will compete in the runoff.

“The Highly Respected Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, an America First Patriot, and someone who has always been extremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT, is running for the United States Senate, to represent a place I love and WON, BIG, three times, with 6.4 Million Votes in 2024 (The Most Votes in the History of the State, BY FAR)!

“I know Ken well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a WINNER! Ken is a Strong Supporter of TERMINATING THE FILIBUSTER and, very importantly, THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, something which polls at 87%, including Dumocrats, and yet can’t seem to get approved. Perhaps Ken can help move these important elements of Government forward because with the Filibuster, as an example, the Democrats will terminate it on their First Day in Office, giving us two extra States, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and a greatly enlarged Supreme Court of the United States, probably going with their Dream Number of 21 Justices from the 9 that we currently have — And these new Justices will be Radical Left Lunatics! Two years ago, our Country was DEAD — Now we have the “HOTTEST” Country anywhere in the World — And I want to keep it that way. Ken Paxton will help me do that, MAKING AMERICA BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!

“Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate. He will tirelessly fight to continue the Great Growth of our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations (I just delivered the Largest Tax and Regulation Cuts in American History!), and Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Champion Texas Oil & Gas, Advocate for our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Promote School Choice, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Incredible Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.

“John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough and, despite having the Most Successful Economy in the History of our Country during my First Term and, with all of the many other things that I accomplished (Secure Border, Military Dominance, Space Force, All Time High Stock Markets and 401(k)s, Record Job and Economic Growth, and so many other things that would be impossible to readily list!), which are considered by many to be legendary, John was very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination, and then, the Presidency, itself, both of which were Landslide Victories and, more importantly, gave us the Country that we have today — THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA (and when we finish up with Iran, which will not be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon, you will see numbers that have never been generated by our Country before!), as opposed to the DISASTER of the previous Administration.

“Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN. Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness. We can never allow what happened to the United States of America during the Corrupt Biden Administration, to happen again. In Texas alone, just look at the Border, with the Highest Level Criminals allowed to run through your State, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Border Policy that was a Laughingstock all over the World. I came in, and fixed it, IMMEDIATELY. I will not permit those dark and dangerous days to come back! WE HAVE ALREADY MADE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, BUT NOW, WE WANT TO MAKE OUR NATION BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. Therefore, 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!”

“WE HAVE ALREADY MADE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, BUT NOW, WE WANT TO MAKE OUR NATION BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. Therefore, 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!”

“I have worked closely with President Trump through both of his Presidential terms and voted with him more than 99% of the time. He has consistently called me a friend in this race. It is now time for Texas Republican voters to decide if they want a strong nominee to help our GOP candidates down ballot and defeat Talarico in November, or a weak nominee who jeopardizes everything we care about. I trust the Republican voters of Texas.”

“As I said on primary night, 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.

For decades, John Cornyn and Ken Paxton have embodied a broken politics that enriches wealthy donors while costs skyrocket for the rest of us.

Our movement to take back Texas for working people rises above party politics — because the biggest fight in this country is not left versus right, it’s top versus bottom.”

The Republican primary headed to a runoff after neither Cornyn nor Paxton secured a majority during the initial vote. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt also ran in the primary but finished third and conceded.

Political observers have predicted the runoff would become one of the most expensive and aggressive Republican contests in Texas in years.

“It’s going to get ugly and it’s going to drag down whichever nominee ends up being the winner,” KHOU 11 Political analyst Brendan Rottinghaus said.

Both Cornyn and Paxton have spent months highlighting their ties to Trump while trying to appeal to Republican voters across Texas.

Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term in the U.S. Senate, recently introduced legislation that would designate U.S. Highway 287 as “Interstate 47,” or “Trump Interstate.”

“Texas is Trump Country, and this bill cements that legacy by designating nearly 1,800 miles of open road from Texas’ Gulf Coast to the edge of the U.S.-Canadian border as I-47 to forever be remembered as Trump Interstate,” Cornyn said.

The proposed interstate would stretch from Port Arthur, Texas, to Choteau, Montana.

Cornyn’s office said the legislation would help advance freight movement, promote economic growth, improve safety, reduce congestion and increase federal matching funds for interstate projects.

The proposal came as Cornyn continued trying to close the gap in polling against Paxton.

According to a recent University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs poll, Paxton led the Republican Senate race with 48% support compared to 45% for Cornyn. Another 7% of voters surveyed said they remained undecided.

The survey, conducted between April 28 and May 1, included 1,200 likely voters and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points.

Paxton has remained popular with many Texas Republicans and has gained national attention for filing lawsuits against Democratic initiatives. He was also acquitted during a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges.

Earlier in the race, Paxton said he would consider dropping out under certain conditions, including if Senate Republicans agreed to drop the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, which would add stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting.

The Republican nominee will advance to the November general election.

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