President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican runoff for U.S. Senate, backing him over longtime incumbent John Cornyn in one of the most closely watched GOP primary battles in the country.
Trump announced the endorsement Tuesday on Truth Social, calling Paxton a “true MAGA warrior” and praising him as a loyal ally who has consistently supported the former president’s agenda. The endorsement arrives just days before the May 26 runoff election and after early voting had already begun across Texas.
The race has exposed a growing divide within the Texas Republican Party between the establishment wing represented by Cornyn and the more hardline conservative movement aligned with Trump and Paxton. Trump’s endorsement is expected to provide a significant boost to Paxton among Republican primary voters, particularly grassroots conservatives who have remained skeptical of Cornyn despite his long record in the Senate.
In his endorsement message, Trump highlighted Paxton’s support for conservative priorities including stricter election laws and immigration enforcement. He also criticized Cornyn for what he described as insufficient loyalty during key moments of Trump’s presidency and legal battles.
Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term in the Senate, has emphasized his conservative voting record and longstanding support for Trump-era policies. But the senator has faced increasing criticism from the Republican base in recent years, particularly over his role in bipartisan gun legislation negotiations following the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde.
The runoff comes after neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the March Republican primary, forcing a head-to-head showdown. Political analysts say Trump’s endorsement could reshape the final days of the race, especially among undecided Republican voters.
The winner of the Republican runoff will advance to face Democratic nominee James Talarico in the general election this November. Democrats have argued that a Paxton nomination could make the race more competitive statewide, pointing to the attorney general’s past legal and political controversies, including his 2023 impeachment by the Texas House and longstanding securities fraud allegations that were later resolved without a trial.
The Texas Senate race is expected to become one of the most expensive and nationally watched contests of the 2026 election cycle, with control of the U.S. Senate potentially hanging in the balance.
