Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in their Republican primary runoff, according to Politico. The endorsement arrives one week before voters decide between the two GOP candidates.
Trump's support for Paxton represents a direct challenge to Cornyn, who has served in the Senate since 2003. The move signals Trump's continued influence over Republican primary contests and his willingness to target establishment figures within his own party. Cornyn, a longtime GOP loyalist and former Senate Minority Leader, faces pressure from Trump's endorsement of a more populist alternative.
Paxton, the state attorney general, aligns more closely with Trump's political style and America First agenda. He has pursued cases aligned with Trump's priorities and maintains stronger ties to the former president's movement. The endorsement follows Trump's pattern of supporting candidates he views as more loyal and ideologically aligned with his vision for the Republican Party.
The runoff race reflects broader tensions within Texas Republicans. Cornyn built his career through traditional conservative politics and leadership roles in Senate GOP leadership. Paxton represents a newer strain of Texas conservatism with closer ties to Trump's base.
Trump's late timing of the endorsement adds pressure during the final week of campaigning. The endorsement carries substantial weight in Republican primary contests, where Trump maintains high favorability ratings among party voters. Cornyn must now defend his Senate seat against both a well-funded opponent and the former president's opposition.
The race tests whether Trump's endorsement power remains decisive in Republican nominations and whether traditional Senate figures can survive challenges from Trump-backed candidates. Texas voters will determine whether they prefer Cornyn's establishment credentials or Paxton's alignment with Trump's political movement.