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Trump endorses Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn ahead of Texas Republican Senate runoff

Trump’s endorsement made Paxton the focus of a dispute over the Republican runoff and the party’s prospects in November.

Trump endorses Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn ahead of Texas Republican Senate runoff
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibilityYahoo News76/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 6, 2026

Credibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

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Republished from NBC News, with credit to the original publisher.

NBC News85/100 HIGH

213 stories · 85–86 · updated Oct 7, 2026

This is NBC News's own score, and this article is credited to NBC News. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.

Yahoo Newsvia NBC News
May 19, 2026
tl;dr

Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff, a decision that drew concern from some Republicans about the party’s chances in the fall election. The endorsement followed weeks of speculation and Trump’s earlier effort to tie his support to passage of the SAVE America Act.

Community verdict

17 VOTES
How does this story look for
Ken Paxton R · TX
● OPEN

People in this story

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Ken Paxton
R · TX

Senate candidate endorsed by Trump in the Texas Republican runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff

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

Senator and candidate opposing Paxton in the Texas Republican runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate who will face the Republican nominee

Lindsey Graham
Former U.S. Senator (R-SC)

Senator who expressed concern about Paxton’s prospects in the general election

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Senator who criticized Trump’s endorsement of Paxton

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who urged Trump to endorse Cornyn

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Senator mentioned in connection with a recent Republican primary

Wesley Hunt
R · TX-38

Representative and former Republican Senate primary candidate who endorsed Paxton

Julia Letlow
R · LA-5

Representative who advanced to a Republican runoff after Trump endorsed her opponent

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Senator whom Paxton said he wanted to join in supporting Trump

ALSO MENTIONED  Steve Bannon, Trump ally who has backed Paxton and commented on the endorsement

Part of a bigger story

25 OUTLETS
Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff. Left-leaning outlets stress criticism of Paxton and the possibility that the endorsement could hurt Republicans in November. Center outlets emphasize concerns about Paxton’s general-election prospects while adding campaign context and reactions. Right-leaning outlets often welcome Trump’s intervention and mock Republican critics, though some question Paxton’s general-election strength or criticize the endorsement.

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