Trump flexes endorsement power for Ken Paxton after ousting Cassidy
GOP Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn will face off again in a run off.
Sergio Flores | Getty Images
President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state’s Republican Senate primary runoff Tuesday, throwing his weight behind a hard-line ally and dealing a major blow to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn one week before Election Day.
The endorsement gives Paxton a major boost in one of the GOP’s most closely watched Senate primaries, a race that has become a test of Trump’s grip on Republican voters and the strength of the Senate GOP establishment.
“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,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “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.”
The May 26 runoff pits Paxton, a longtime Trump ally, against Cornyn, a four-term incumbent who has served in the Senate since 2003. Early voting began Monday and runs through Friday.
“I am incredibly honored to have President Trump’s COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT,” Paxton posted on X following the endorsement. “No one has ever fought harder for the American people than President Trump, and I look forward to championing his America First agenda in the Senate!”
Trump’s influence
The Texas race is the latest example of Trump flexing his influence in Republican primaries as he moves to punish lawmakers he views as insufficiently loyal and reward candidates aligned with his political movement.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the press, acknowledging he will face a runoff with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate after the Texas Republican primary election at the Austin Marriott Downtown in Texas, March 3, 2026.
Sarah Diggins | Austin American-statesman | Hearst Newspapers | Getty Images
“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,” Trump posted.
In response, Cornyn posted on X that he has “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,” Cornyn continued, referring to Democratic nominee James Talarico.
It is the third major GOP primary race in…
Read More: Trump flexes endorsement power for Ken Paxton after ousting Cassidy