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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Trump endorses Ken Paxton in Texas GOP primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn

Paxton received Trump’s endorsement in his runoff contest against incumbent John Cornyn.

Trump endorses Ken Paxton in Texas GOP primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn
Image · KOB.com

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This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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Republished from Associated Press, with credit to the original publisher.

Associated Press96/100 HIGH

457 stories · 96–97 · updated Oct 7, 2026

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KOB.comvia Associated Press
May 19, 2026
tl;dr

President Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff against incumbent John Cornyn, giving Paxton a high-profile boost ahead of the May 26 vote. The endorsement sharpens a contest that party leaders say could affect the party’s resources and chances in the general election.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Paxton in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Paxton’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate endorsed by Trump in the Texas runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Paxton in the Texas Senate runoff

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

Incumbent senator and Republican Senate candidate in the Texas runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic candidate who will face the Republican nominee in the general election

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator mentioned as a recent Republican primary defeat

Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

Texas representative who finished third in the primary

Tim Scott
R · SC · SEN

Senator and Republican leader supporting Cornyn

Part of a bigger story

93 OUTLETS
Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Republican Senate Runoff

Outlets agree President Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff. Left-leaning outlets portray the endorsement as a setback for Cornyn and Republicans, stressing Paxton’s baggage and the possibility of helping Democrats. Center outlets focus on Republican concerns about the seat and Senate majority, and on what the endorsement signals about Trump’s influence and the party’s direction. Right-leaning outlets center Trump’s backing for Paxton, with some presenting it as a major boost and others noting its potential electoral consequences.

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