Former President Donald Trump announced his backing of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday in the Republican Senate primary, giving significant momentum to Paxton’s campaign against sitting Senator John Cornyn ahead of their May 26 runoff contest.
Trump declared on social media that “Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate.”
The endorsement announcement came during a Paxton rally, prompting celebration from attendees who broke into dancing to “YMCA,” a song frequently played at Trump events.
“I have so much respect for the president and appreciate so much his endorsement,” Paxton told supporters at the Allen, Texas gathering.
The two candidates secured their spots in the runoff after emerging as the leading vote-getters in the March 3 primary, where neither achieved a majority. Rep. Wesley Hunt came in third place and was eliminated from further competition.
While the four-term Cornyn has supported Trump’s legislative priorities in Congress, Paxton has positioned himself as a more aggressive champion of the Make America Great Again agenda. Trump’s decision to support Paxton creates tension with Republican Party leaders, who believe Cornyn offers better prospects in the November general election against Democratic nominee Texas State Rep. James Talarico.
Responding to Trump’s endorsement, Talarico released a statement saying “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.”
Cornyn’s campaign team had not issued a response by press time. However, on Monday, the senator expressed his belief that Trump would remain neutral in the race.
“I think the president doesn’t want to disappoint some of his own political base, and some of the Paxton people have been talking to him and encouraged him to support him, I think that was a bridge too far for the president so he’s just opted to stay out of the race,” Cornyn stated.
The senator also contended that Paxton represents a weakness in a general election contest, where Democrats aim to capture the seat, arguing that “Ken Paxton would hand it to them on a silver platter.”
In his social media endorsement, Trump described Cornyn as “a good man” but criticized him for not being “supportive of me when times were tough.” Trump also expressed frustration that “John was very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination.”
The contest between Cornyn and Paxton has developed into an intense and costly fight over the Republican Party’s direction, drawing resources away from other competitive contests nationwide.
Trump had previously disappointed some Republicans by withholding his endorsement earlier in the campaign. During a March 1 visit to Corpus Christi, he told reporters he had “pretty much” made his choice but refused to reveal his preference.
Following the primary results, Trump pledged to make an endorsement and indicated he expected the candidate without his support to withdraw from the race. Paxton had declared his intention to continue campaigning regardless.
The relationship between Trump and Cornyn has experienced periods of strain, particularly after the senator suggested in 2023 that Trump lacked the ability to win the presidency again in 2024 and that his “time has passed him by.”
Cornyn also initially opposed Trump’s proposal for a border wall with Mexico, though he now endorses the project.
With a background as former state attorney general and state Supreme Court judge, Cornyn first won statewide office 36 years ago. His measured approach and judicial demeanor differ markedly from the aggressive messaging style associated with Trump and his Make America Great Again movement.
Senate Republican leadership has rallied behind Cornyn, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who leads the National Republican Senatorial Committee and cautioned that “it is a strong possibility we cannot hold Texas if John Cornyn is not our nominee.”
Republican strategists have expressed concern that defending the seat with Paxton as the nominee would require significantly more financial resources that could otherwise support Senate campaigns in more competitive states. Paxton faced impeachment proceedings on corruption allegations in 2023 but was cleared of all charges. He also resolved a lengthy securities fraud case through a settlement agreement in 2024.
Trump had previously highlighted the competitive dynamic during a February 27 appearance in Corpus Christi, acknowledging “a little bit of a race” while noting both candidates’ presence.
“We have a great attorney general, Ken Paxton. Where’s Ken? Hi, Ken,” Trump remarked, before adding, “And we have a great senator, John Cornyn. Hi, John.”
“It’s going to be an interesting one, right? They’re both great people,” he concluded.
Trump also acknowledged Hunt after recognizing other Texas officials in attendance, saying “Another friend of mine who is doing very well, Wesley Hunt. Wesley Hunt, what a good job.”
