President Trump Endorses Ken Paxton In Explosive Texas Senate Showdown
President Donald Trump officially endorsed Ken Paxton on Monday in Texas’ blockbuster Republican Senate primary, delivering a potentially devastating blow to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn just days before voters head to the polls.
The endorsement ends months of speculation over whether President Trump would intervene in what has become the most expensive Senate primary race in American history and further cements the president’s dominance over the Republican Party heading into the next election cycle.
“I know Ken well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a WINNER!” President Trump wrote in a lengthy social media endorsement. “Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas.”
Trump specifically praised Paxton for backing efforts to eliminate the Senate filibuster and for supporting the SAVE America Act, legislation aimed at requiring proof of citizenship for voting.
The endorsement represents a crushing setback for Cornyn, who spent months attempting to repair his relationship with President Trump and align himself more closely with MAGA priorities after years of tension with the conservative base.
Cornyn had publicly backed several Trump-aligned policy initiatives during the primary fight and acknowledged earlier this week that the president’s endorsement timing had become increasingly uncertain.
Republican establishment figures reportedly pushed aggressively behind the scenes for President Trump to support Cornyn instead of Paxton. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, numerous Republican senators, and top GOP strategists argued that Paxton’s past scandals could jeopardize the seat in the general election.
Even longtime Trump allies, including co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, reportedly urged the president to back Cornyn.
But Paxton’s standing with the MAGA base remained strong despite years of legal and political controversies.
The Texas attorney general was indicted in 2015 on securities fraud charges stemming from conduct before he became attorney general. Those charges were later resolved through a pretrial diversion agreement. In 2023, Paxton was impeached by the Texas House over allegations including abuse of office and retaliation against whistleblowers, though he ultimately survived conviction in the Texas Senate.
Despite the controversies, Paxton solidified support among grassroots conservatives through aggressive legal battles against the Biden administration and strong support for President Trump’s challenges to the 2020 election results.
Recent polling has shown Paxton leading Cornyn by a narrow margin heading into the final stretch of the race, though Republicans remain divided over whether he would be more vulnerable in a general election matchup against Democratic candidate James Talarico.
Following the endorsement, several Republican senators openly expressed frustration over President Trump’s decision.
Sen. Susan Collins criticized Paxton as “ethically challenged,” while Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that Paxton’s candidacy could dramatically increase the cost of defending the seat in November.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski also voiced concern that the endorsement could place a traditionally Republican seat at risk.
Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz have remained publicly neutral throughout the contentious primary battle.
Despite President Trump’s endorsement of Paxton, Cornyn vowed to continue fighting through the runoff and argued Republican voters must decide whether they want a nominee capable of protecting the seat in the general election.
The Texas showdown now joins a growing list of high-profile Republican primaries where President Trump has aggressively targeted GOP incumbents viewed as insufficiently loyal to his political movement.