Former President Donald Trump threw his support behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate primary runoff, a move that could reshape the contest against four‑term incumbent Senator John Cornyn. The endorsement, posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform, praised Paxton as a “true MAGA Warrior” and highlighted his record on tax cuts, deregulation, and economic growth. Paxton, who has faced multiple legal challenges and a 2023 impeachment by the Texas House, thanked Trump on X, promising to advance the former president’s “America First” agenda in the Senate.

The runoff, scheduled for May 26, pits Paxton, a long‑time Trump ally, against Cornyn, who has served since 2003 and boasts a 99% voting alignment with Trump during his administration. Early voting began Monday and runs through Friday, with both candidates courting the GOP base amid a broader test of Trump’s influence over Republican voters. While Cornyn emphasizes his record of collaboration with Trump and the backing of Senate leadership, he acknowledges that the endorsement could force voters to decide between a “strong nominee” who can support down‑ballot GOP candidates and a “weak nominee” who might jeopardize broader Republican goals.

Trump’s involvement comes after his recent endorsement helped unseat Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana and his backing of Ed Gallrein in Kentucky’s primary against Rep. Thomas Massie. Party insiders warn that Paxton’s candidacy could make the general election more costly and uncertain. Senators Lindsey Graham and Lisa Murkowski expressed concerns that a Paxton victory would raise campaign expenses and pose challenges in the November contest against Democratic nominee State Rep. James Talarico. Polls show a tight race, with a University of Houston survey giving Paxton a narrow lead of 48% to 45% among likely runoff voters. A Texas Southern University poll indicates that either Republican could be vulnerable to Talarico in a hypothetical general election, though Republicans remain favored to retain the seat.