President Trump's decision to endorse Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over Senator John Cornyn in the upcoming runoff election has sent shockwaves through the Republican establishment, just days before the May 26 vote. The move, which breaks with Senate GOP leadership, underscores Trump's enduring influence as a party kingmaker and his willingness to punish perceived disloyalty.
Senators who had backed Cornyn, including Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.D.) and NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.), were caught off guard. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) voiced her dismay, calling Cornyn "an outstanding senator" and expressing disappointment that Trump did not support him. The endorsement follows the recent loss of Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in his primary, a defeat many attribute to Trump's opposition.
The rift highlights a deepening divide between Trump and the Senate GOP conference. As one Republican strategist put it, "I guess the president figured he doesn't need a GOP senate majority for the remainder of 2026 because he really no longer has one." The strategist added that Trump's leverage over Senate leadership is "pretty much gone" after the Paxton endorsement.
Cornyn, who narrowly missed an outright win in the March primary, now faces an uphill battle against Paxton, who has weathered scandals including impeachment and adultery allegations. Polls show a tight race: a Texas Southern University survey found Cornyn leading Democrat James Talarico by one point (45-44), while Paxton is tied with Talarico at 45 percent. Despite these numbers, Trump has touted Paxton as "tested at the highest and most difficult levels" and capable of winning in November.
Political analysts point to Trump's long memory as a key factor. "He viewed John Cornyn as not being loyal enough, and he views Paxton as 100 percent loyal," said Jon Taylor, a political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In his endorsement, Trump praised Paxton while criticizing Cornyn for being "very late in backing me" and unsupportive "when times were tough."
The fallout extends beyond Texas. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) warned that the Republican majority is now in "jeopardy," while Thune tried to downplay the impact, telling reporters, "One state doesn't determine the outcome of this election." Cornyn, for his part, has urged Texas Republicans to choose a "strong nominee" to help down-ballot candidates and defeat Talarico, emphasizing his alignment with Trump despite the snub.
For related coverage, see Collins Slams Trump's Paxton Endorsement, Calls Him 'Ethically Challenged' and Trump Backs Paxton in Texas Senate Runoff, Delivering Blow to Cornyn.
