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◆ Mixed look for TrumpElections / Campaigns

Trump endorses Paxton in Texas Senate race ahead of runoff

Trump endorsed Paxton and criticized Cornyn’s past support for him.

Trump endorses Paxton in Texas Senate race ahead of 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.

Republished

Republished from CBS News. The relationship between the two publishers has not been determined.

CBS News84/100 HIGH

202 stories · 84–85 · updated Oct 7, 2026

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

Yahoo Newsvia CBS News
May 19, 2026
tl;dr

President Trump endorsed Ken Paxton in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff against John Cornyn, a week before voters choose the party’s nominee. The endorsement comes as Senate Republicans have backed Cornyn and warn Paxton could be a weaker general-election candidate.

Community verdict

23 VOTES
How does this story look for
Donald Trump R · President of the United States
● OPEN

People in this story

SWIPE →
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Republican senator and Senate candidate facing Paxton in the runoff

Cornyn's version of this story ↗
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate endorsed by Trump in the Texas runoff

Paxton's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate nominee who responded to the endorsement

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

Senator who discussed the difficulty and cost of a Paxton general-election campaign

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Senator who criticized Paxton and praised Cornyn

Former president whose 2020 election victory Paxton challenged

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who commented on Trump’s endorsement

ALSO MENTIONED  Barack Obama, Former president whose administration Paxton challenged

Part of a bigger story

34 OUTLETS
Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Republican Runoff

Outlets agree that President Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff ahead of the May 26 contest. Left-leaning outlets emphasize Paxton’s controversies and present the endorsement as a possible opening for Democrats. Center outlets focus on how Trump’s choice affects the runoff, Republican strategy and November prospects. Right-leaning outlets foreground Trump’s support for Paxton, including his praise of Paxton’s loyalty and alignment with his agenda.

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