• Former President Donald Trump endorses Ken Paxton in the Texas GOP Senate primary runoff, intensifying the challenge to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
  • The endorsement is likely to shift national attention and donor flows toward Paxton ahead of the May 26 runoff.
  • The race has already been expensive and acrimonious, with Trump's backing potentially reshaping the intraparty dynamics.

Trump Throws Weight Behind Paxton

Former President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff, a move that heightens the contest with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and reshapes the race’s political dynamics. In a statement, Trump urged the other candidate to withdraw, calling Paxton “a true fighter” for conservative causes.

The endorsement comes after a closely contested primary in which no candidate reached 50%, forcing a May 26 runoff. Cornyn narrowly led Paxton in the initial vote, with a third candidate, Wesley Hunt, taking a notable share. The race has been expensive and acrimonious, with both campaigns and outside groups spending heavily.

Trump remains a dominant force in GOP nomination politics, and his backing can sway conservative primary voters and outside funding decisions. Paxton, a controversial figure with a history of legal and ethics scrutiny, including past impeachment proceedings as Texas attorney general, has positioned himself as an outsider aligned with Trump. Cornyn, an established Senate incumbent, is viewed by some Republicans as more electable in a general election.

The endorsement sparked debate within the GOP about loyalty to Trump versus concerns about Paxton’s controversies. Conservative activists and some members of Congress have weighed in with competing endorsements. One Trump ally outside Texas publicly supported Paxton after the endorsement.

Short-term, the runoff is expected to see an increase in national campaign spending, intensified advertising, and higher-profile visits from national GOP figures. If Paxton wins the nomination and then the general election, it could shift the Senate’s makeup and influence committee assignments and legislative priorities. If Paxton loses, it might signal limits to Trump’s sway in certain GOP electorates.

This race is one of several high-profile GOP primary contests where Trump’s endorsement decisions have been pivotal, similar to past cycles where backing elevated challengers or deepened intraparty divisions.

Repeated attempts to reach the Cornyn and Paxton campaigns for comment were not immediately successful.

This article has been updated to include details on the runoff timeline.