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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

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

Paxton received Trump's endorsement in his runoff challenge to incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.

Trump endorses Paxton in Texas Republican primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn
Image · WMTW

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Outlet credibilityWMTW75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

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May 19, 2026
tl;dr

Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff against incumbent John Cornyn. The endorsement could reshape the contest ahead of the May 26 runoff and intensify a party dispute over who can hold the seat in November.

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

Senate candidate in the Texas Republican runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Paxton in the Texas Republican Senate runoff

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

Incumbent senator and candidate in the Texas Republican runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate in Texas

Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

Texas representative and former Republican primary candidate

Tim Scott
R · SC · SEN

South Carolina senator and chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee

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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