Republican senators are livid at Trump's endorsement of Paxton
Trump’s endorsement of Paxton prompted concern among Republican senators about the Texas Senate race.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates The Seattle Times, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The Seattle Times is an established regional news organization, and this article explicitly identifies the New York Times as its original publisher. The reporting is attributed to a named author and includes direct quotes, though some internal political details rely on anonymous aides.
- Source type — Established regional newspaper; the page carries reporting originally published by the New York Times.
- Editorial standards — The story uses direct quotations and attributes claims, but some internal considerations come from anonymous aides.
- Author attribution — A named reporter is credited.
- Transparency — The page explicitly identifies the original publisher.
The article gives direct reactions from multiple senators and attributes its account of leadership concerns to aides. It offers limited response or explanation from Trump and Paxton, and some reported worries about the race are predictive.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The story includes several Republican senators’ criticisms and concerns, as well as Graham’s defense of Trump’s right to endorse. It does not include comments from Trump or Paxton, leaving their perspectives absent.
- Counterarguments presented — Graham says Trump had a right to endorse, but the article does not include a response from Trump or Paxton.
- Source diversity — Several senators are quoted, but they are mostly Republicans reacting to the same decision.
- Loaded language — Some vivid descriptions appear, but the piece generally attributes opinions and reactions to sources.
- Omitted context — The article gives limited detail about Paxton’s or Trump’s reasoning for the endorsement.
The article reports Republican senators’ reactions to Trump’s endorsement in largely neutral language. It includes criticism of the decision as well as Graham’s acknowledgment that Trump had a right to make the endorsement.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive reporting, with the senators’ strong reactions presented as attributed quotes.
- Source selection — Most quoted sources are Republican senators; the story also briefly notes Democrats’ optimism about the race.
- Framing — The framing emphasizes Republican concern about the endorsement’s effects, while also reporting that it was Trump’s decision.
Republished with credit
Republished from The New York Times, with credit to the original publisher.
99 stories · 94–95 · updated Oct 7, 2026
This is The New York Times's own score, and this article is credited to The New York Times. The host score in the Source Check is The Seattle Times's.
President Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton in Texas’s Senate primary runoff, drawing criticism from Republican senators who worry the move could hurt John Cornyn and the party’s Senate majority.
Trump’s endorsement of Paxton came as early voting was underway in Texas. Several Republican senators had urged Trump to support Cornyn, whom they viewed as a stronger general-election candidate. Lisa Murkowski said the endorsement could put the seat in jeopardy, while John Thune said it would not change how he felt about the matter.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo 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.
People in this story
SWIPE →President who endorsed Paxton in the Texas Senate primary runoff
Trump's version of this story ↗Texas senator and candidate whose primary campaign was affected by Trump’s endorsement of his opponent
Cornyn's version of this story ↗Democratic Senate nominee in Texas
South Carolina senator who discussed Paxton’s path in the race and the campaign’s fundraising needs
Maine senator who praised Cornyn and expressed disappointment in Trump’s endorsement
Senate majority leader who had urged Trump to endorse Cornyn
Alaska senator who criticized the endorsement and warned it could endanger the seat
North Carolina senator whose prior retirement decision followed Trump’s threat to back a challenger
Louisiana senator who said he would oppose immigration-enforcement funding if it included money tied to Trump’s ballroom project
North Dakota senator who expressed support for Cornyn
Mississippi senator who declined to answer questions about the endorsement
Part of a bigger story
93 OUTLETSOutlets 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.
- ARTICLES
- 102
- OUTLETS
- 93
- AVG CRED
- 72
- Yahoo News · Democrats cautiously optimistic after Trump backs Paxton in Texas Senate runoff
- Human Events · DANIEL HAYWORTH: Texas, it's our turn to prove that the GOP's 'old guard' is finished
- The Gilmer Mirror · Texas' GOP Senate runoff pits an old guard-backed institutionalist against a Trump-picked flamethrower
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