Trump Backs Paxton in Texas Runoff, Splitting Senate Republicans
Trump endorsed Ken Paxton on May 19 ahead of the May 26 Texas GOP runoff, angering Senate Republicans and boosting a candidate with a long legal and personal controversy history.
The BulwarkTrump Humiliates John Cornyn With Paxton Endorsement
USA TODAYSenate Republicans seethe over Trump's snub of John Cornyn in Texas
Raw StoryBlindsided Republicans panic that Trump just cost them the Senate: report
BBC NewsTrump endorses Ken Paxton in Texas, gambling on a challenger with baggage in a crucial race
Overview
President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 19, elevating Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff scheduled for May 26.
Paxton narrowly trailed Sen. John Cornyn after the March 3 primary and posted on X at 12:18 p.m. on March 5 offering political concessions that kept him in contention.
Senate Republicans reacted with visible frustration, with Sen. Mike Rounds and Sen. John Thune expressing disappointment and Sen. Lisa Murkowski warning the endorsement could jeopardize the seat, according to reporting.
The primary was the most expensive in U.S. history with more than $125 million in advertising, and Cornyn had outspent Paxton by more than $65 million, according to tracking firms.
The May 26 runoff winner will face Democrat James Talarico in November, and polls showed tight matchups while Talarico reported raising more than $27 million in the first quarter, according to campaign figures.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the endorsement as a high-stakes, partisan gamble that elevates Trump's influence while spotlighting risks to GOP unity and electability. Editorial choices—foregrounding Senate Republicans' reservations, detailing Paxton's legal and impeachment history, and sequencing Cornyn's electability concerns after the endorsement—create a cautious, risk-focused narrative.