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Texas race: Trump leaned toward endorsing Cornyn. Then the leaks started — and Paxton made a 'genius move'

Paxton said he would consider leaving the runoff if the Senate passed Trump’s voting bill after Republicans lifted the filibuster.

Texas race: Trump leaned toward endorsing Cornyn. Then the leaks started — and Paxton made a 'genius move'
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This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
CNN
Mar 11, 2026
tl;dr

Sources told CNN that Trump’s possible endorsement of John Cornyn stalled after leaks, and that Ken Paxton’s offer to consider leaving the runoff if the Senate passed Trump’s voting bill shifted the debate toward the Senate filibuster. Trump has not yet endorsed either candidate.

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Ken Paxton R · TX
● OPEN

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Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Cornyn’s opponent in the Senate runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President tying a possible endorsement in the Texas runoff to passage of his voting bill

Trump's version of this story ↗
John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader resisting calls to eliminate the filibuster

Thune's version of this story ↗
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator seeking the Republican nomination in the runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗
Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

North Carolina senator opposing elimination of the filibuster

Part of a bigger story

23 OUTLETS
Trump Delays Endorsement in Texas Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that Trump has not endorsed in the Texas Republican Senate runoff and that Paxton said he would consider leaving the race if the Senate passed the SAVE America Act. Center outlets emphasize the leaked, stalled prospect of a Cornyn endorsement and how Paxton's offer shifted attention to the SAVE Act and filibuster. Right-leaning outlets cast Trump's delay as pressure on Senate Republicans to pass the act and highlight Cornyn's shift on the filibuster, with some framing the bill as an election-integrity measure.

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