President Trump on Tuesday issued a final plea for Texas Republicans to back state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Senate GOP runoff, just hours before polls closed. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “Texas, Vote for Ken Paxton, our Country’s BEST Attorney General!” The endorsement, which came late in the race, underscores the high stakes of a contest that pits Trump’s preferred candidate against a seasoned incumbent.
The MAGA vs. Establishment Battle
Trump endorsed Paxton last week in the runoff against Senator John Cornyn, a four-term Republican who has served since George W. Bush’s first term. The race has become a proxy fight between Trump’s MAGA wing and the party’s old guard. Paxton and Cornyn advanced to the runoff after finishing first and second in the March primary, with Representative Wesley Hunt coming in third. Although Cornyn won about 32,000 more votes in that round, Paxton is now the favorite thanks to Trump’s backing.
In his endorsement, Trump called Paxton a “true MAGA warrior” and criticized Cornyn for failing to support him “when times were tough.” Cornyn had said in 2023 that Trump’s “time has passed him by” and doubted his ability to win the 2024 election. However, during his campaign, Cornyn has touted his support for Trump’s agenda and highlighted his legislative record. He has also attacked Paxton’s ethics, noting that the Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023 and that his ex-wife, state Senator Angela Paxton, alleged infidelity during their divorce proceedings.
Cornyn’s Warning on Down-Ballot Risks
On Tuesday, Cornyn argued that a Paxton nomination would force the party to spend “hundreds of millions of dollars” to defend the seat against Democratic nominee James Talarico. In an interview on “Fox & Friends,” Cornyn said, “I think I can be the most help to the president and his agenda in the last two years of his term of office, and all the downballot races. And Ken Paxton will be an albatross. He could well lose, but even if he doesn’t lose, he will win by such a razor-thin margin that it’s likely to have a negative drag on the downballot races in Texas — judges, local officials, House of Representatives, you name it.”
Paxton, meanwhile, has leaned heavily into his Trump alliance. He posted an AI-generated poster on social media featuring himself and Trump, with the caption “Polls are open. We need your vote.” The poster also displays the slogans “Faith. Duty. America First.” This messaging echoes the broader MAGA movement and positions Paxton as the outsider candidate in the race.
Context of the Runoff
The runoff is a critical test of Trump’s influence in Texas, a state where he has remained popular among the GOP base. Cornyn’s campaign has sought to emphasize his experience and ability to work with Trump, but the president’s late endorsement of Paxton has shifted the dynamics. Angela Paxton’s decision to skip an endorsement in the race has added a personal dimension to the contest.
As voters head to the polls, the outcome will signal whether Trump’s endorsement can overcome incumbent advantages and ethical concerns. The Hill’s Decision Desk is providing live coverage of the Texas runoffs, tracking results in real time.
