Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Primary
Trump endorses Ken Paxton Texas Senate
President Donald Trump officially endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday, marking a significant intervention in the state’s high-stakes Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate.
The announcement, shared on Truth Social, characterizes Paxton as a “true MAGA Warrior” who has consistently delivered for Texas and the broader conservative movement. This long-awaited endorsement creates a major shift in the race, which pits the firebrand Attorney General against the four-term incumbent, Senator John Cornyn.
The decision follows months of speculation and internal party lobbying, during which Trump remained neutral while both camps spent an estimated $25 million on aggressive advertising campaigns.
While many party establishment figures and Senate leadership in Washington had urged Trump to back Cornyn, citing concerns that Paxton’s history of personal and legal controversies could make him a vulnerable candidate in the general election, the president ultimately aligned with his grassroots base.
In his statement, Trump acknowledged that Cornyn is a “good man,” but noted his dissatisfaction with the senator for being “very late” in supporting his own presidential bid.
The timing of the endorsement is critical, as Texas is currently in the middle of its early voting period for the May 26 runoff.
With polls indicating a dead-heat race between the two candidates, political analysts suggest the president’s move could provide the necessary momentum for Paxton to overcome the incumbent’s lead. The contest has centered heavily on ideological differences, with Paxton positioning himself as an uncompromising populist and Cornyn emphasizing his legislative experience and ability to navigate federal policy.
The primary winner will move on to face Democratic nominee James Talarico in the November general election. While Republicans currently hold a firm grip on Texas politics, some party leaders have expressed private concerns that the intensity of the primary—fueled by accusations of corruption, infidelity, and disloyalty—could complicate efforts to unify the GOP base ahead of the fall campaign.
Despite these concerns, supporters of the Attorney General celebrated the news, viewing the endorsement as a validation of their effort to steer the state party in a more aggressively conservative direction.
