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ROOKE: Cornyn's Panicked Flip On Filibuster Aimed Straight At Trump's Inbox

Paxton tied his possible departure from the primary to passage of the SAVE America Act, putting pressure on Cornyn and other Republicans.

ROOKE: Cornyn's Panicked Flip On Filibuster Aimed Straight At Trump's Inbox
Image · The Daily Caller

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This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
tl;dr

Mary Rooke argues that John Cornyn’s new support for changing the Senate filibuster is a bid to counter Ken Paxton in Texas’s Republican Senate primary and win Donald Trump’s endorsement. Polls cited in the article show Paxton leading Cornyn in the runoff.

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Ken Paxton R · TX
● OPEN

People in this story

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Ken Paxton
R · TX

Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate whose promise to leave the race is a central pressure on Cornyn

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator and Republican Senate candidate whose op-ed supports changing the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, included in hypothetical general-election polling

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose endorsement is sought by Cornyn and could affect the Texas Republican primary

Mitch McConnell
R · KY · SEN

Kentucky senator described as opposing filibuster changes during Trump’s first term

Joe Manchin, III
Former U.S. Senator (I-WV)

Former Democratic senator cited as one of the senators who blocked a 2022 effort to change the filibuster

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate minority leader cited for past efforts and statements concerning the filibuster

Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

Texas representative and former Republican primary challenger whose supporters are discussed in polling

Kyrsten Sinema
Former U.S. Senator (I-AZ)

Former senator cited as one of the senators who blocked a 2022 effort to change the filibuster

Part of a bigger story

5 OUTLETS
John Cornyn Backs Senate Rule Change for SAVE America Act

Outlets agree that John Cornyn reversed course and said he would support changing Senate filibuster rules to pass the SAVE America Act while competing with Ken Paxton in Texas’s Republican Senate contest. Center outlets connect the procedural dispute to the runoff; Roll Call also ties it to the candidates’ efforts to win Donald Trump’s endorsement. Right-leaning outlets portray Cornyn’s reversal more as an electoral maneuver to counter Paxton and win Trump’s backing, while emphasizing his past inconsistency.

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