Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas GOP Senate Run-Off

President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate run-off, backing the challenger over incumbent Senator John Cornyn ahead of the state’s primary election next week.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised Paxton as “extremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT” and criticized Cornyn for not supporting him “when times were tough.”

Trump had previously stated in March that any candidate who failed to earn his endorsement should “DROP OUT OF THE RACE.”

Texas requires a candidate to secure a clear majority to win the party nomination; neither Paxton nor Cornyn achieved that in the March 4 primary, forcing the May 28 run-off.

Texas operates open primaries, allowing voters to participate regardless of party affiliation, but they must commit to voting in only one party’s primary.

Paxton, 63, has long been the frontrunner for the Republican nomination but faces a more competitive general election. Despite controversies including an extramarital affair, a felony securities fraud indictment, and impeachment by fellow Republicans, he has never lost an election.

Recent polls indicate a tight run-off. An early May survey by Texans for a Conservative Majority, a super PAC backing Cornyn, showed the incumbent leading by 1 point. A poll by Lone Star Liberty PAC, aligned with Paxton, gave the attorney general an 11-point lead.

A more independent poll from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs gave Paxton a 3-point advantage.

Some Texas Republicans have voiced concerns about Paxton’s general election prospects. State Representative Matt Shaheen wrote on X, “Ken Paxton would be a disaster for Texas conservatives!”

The Republican nominee will face a competitive general election against Democrat James Talarico. A poll by the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center found Talarico tied with Paxton, while Cornyn would lead by 1 point.

Other polls show a larger Democratic edge. A University of Texas survey had Talarico winning by 7 points against Cornyn and 8 points against Paxton. Texas Public Opinion Research showed Talarico leading Paxton by 5 points and Cornyn by 3 points.

Democrats have long argued that statewide races in Texas could become competitive, but the party has not won a statewide office since 1994.

Strategists say Trump’s endorsement could strain his relationship with Senate Republicans.

“Paxton, more likely than not, would have won without Trump’s endorsement. Now Trump has alienated the Republican majority in the Senate, Senator Thune, in particular, who’s been lobbying nonstop for Trump to endorse Cornyn,” Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, told Al Jazeera.

“He’s also bought himself a John Cornyn who, if he loses on May 26th, has little reason to support the Trump administration during his final seven months in office.”

Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, while Democrats hold 45 and two independents — Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine — caucus with Democrats.