Trump Backs Ken Paxton in Explosive Texas Senate Showdown Against John Cornyn

BY MIRABEL ODETA

President Donald Trump has thrown his full support behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in one of the most closely watched Republican Senate battles in the country, delivering a major political blow to longtime U.S. Senator John Cornyn just days before a critical runoff election.

Trump’s endorsement instantly reshaped the race, strengthening Paxton’s position among conservative voters and intensifying divisions inside the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The former president praised Paxton as a loyal ally and a “true MAGA warrior,” signaling that he sees the Texas attorney general as the candidate best aligned with his political movement and agenda.

The endorsement arrives at a crucial moment in the campaign. Paxton and Cornyn are preparing to face each other in a high-stakes runoff after neither candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the March 3 Republican primary. Political analysts believe Trump’s backing could prove decisive in a runoff environment where conservative grassroots voters traditionally dominate turnout.

In a statement posted online, Trump said Paxton had consistently delivered for Texas and would continue to do so in the U.S. Senate. The announcement was widely interpreted by political observers as a devastating setback for Cornyn, who has spent years as one of the most influential Republicans in Washington and previously served as Senate majority whip.

Paxton quickly celebrated the endorsement, thanking Trump and calling it an honor to receive support from the former president. The Texas attorney general has built a strong following among conservative activists through his hardline positions on immigration, border security and election-related issues. Many grassroots Republicans view him as a fighter willing to challenge establishment politics inside the GOP.

Despite his popularity with conservative voters, Paxton’s political career has been surrounded by controversy. He survived a dramatic impeachment effort led by fellow Texas Republicans, faced a long-running securities fraud indictment and endured intense public scrutiny surrounding his personal life and divorce proceedings. Still, his support among many Republican primary voters has remained remarkably resilient.

Cornyn has repeatedly argued that Paxton’s legal and political controversies could put the Senate seat at risk for Republicans in the general election. He warned that nominating Paxton might force the GOP to spend massive amounts of money defending a state that has traditionally been considered safely Republican.

Following Trump’s endorsement, Cornyn acknowledged the challenge ahead but insisted the final decision belonged to Texas voters. He argued that Republicans needed a candidate capable of protecting conservative priorities while also remaining competitive in November’s statewide election.

Cornyn has long been viewed by establishment Republicans as the safer general-election choice due to his experience, fundraising ability and broader appeal among moderates and independents. However, his relationship with Trump supporters weakened after comments he made in previous years suggesting Republicans needed a presidential candidate “who can actually win.” Those remarks angered many pro-Trump conservatives and created lingering distrust among parts of the Republican base.

Trump himself referenced that strained relationship in his endorsement statement. While complimenting Cornyn as a “good man,” Trump criticized the senator for being slow to support his presidential campaign and suggested Paxton had demonstrated stronger loyalty to the MAGA movement.

The endorsement also reflects Trump’s continued influence over Republican politics nationwide. In recent months, his backing has played a significant role in several Republican primary battles, helping conservative challengers defeat incumbents and reshape state-level politics. His political operation has increasingly targeted Republicans viewed as insufficiently loyal to his agenda.

The winner of the Texas Republican runoff will face Democratic state Representative James Talarico in the general election. Talarico has emerged as one of the Democratic Party’s fastest-rising figures in Texas politics, gaining national attention for his fundraising success and appeals to moderate and independent voters.

A former teacher and current Presbyterian seminarian, Talarico has positioned himself as a fresh alternative capable of competing in suburban areas where Democrats have made gains in recent years. His campaign has focused on education, healthcare and bridging political divides in a state dominated by Republicans for decades.

Democrats have not won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, but party strategists believe growing urban populations and changing demographics could eventually make the state more competitive. A divisive Republican primary, combined with heavy spending and internal party tensions, has fueled hopes among Democrats that the race could become unexpectedly close.

Republicans currently hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate, making every competitive race critical for both parties. Democrats would need to gain four seats to reclaim control of the chamber, and strategists view states such as Maine, North Carolina, Ohio and Alaska as possible pickup opportunities. Although Texas remains difficult terrain for Democrats, a fractured Republican Party could potentially expand their path to a majority.

Political experts note that runoff elections in Texas often favor candidates with the strongest grassroots enthusiasm, an area where Paxton appears to hold an advantage. Polling conducted earlier this year suggested many Republican voters participating in runoffs are more aligned with Trump-style conservatism than with establishment Republicans like Cornyn.

Democratic officials have already seized on the bitter Republican battle as evidence of growing division within the GOP. Maeve Coyle, a spokesperson for Senate Democrats’ campaign organization, argued that Republicans are wasting enormous financial resources fighting among themselves while Democratic enthusiasm continues to grow.

With Trump now firmly backing Paxton, the Texas Senate runoff has transformed into more than just a contest between two Republicans. The race has become a larger test of Trump’s enduring power over the Republican Party, the future direction of conservative politics in Texas, and whether establishment figures like Cornyn can still survive in an era increasingly dominated by populist and hardline conservative movements.