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◆ Mixed look for TrumpElections / Campaigns

Trump promises to endorse either Cornyn or Paxton – and to push the other to drop out

Trump said he would endorse either Cornyn or Paxton and ask the other candidate to drop out.

Trump promises to endorse either Cornyn or Paxton – and to push the other to drop out
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

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Host credibilityYahoo News75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026

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

Republished with credit

Republished from CNN, with credit to the original publisher.

CNN84/100 HIGH

92 stories · 84–85 · updated Oct 9, 2026

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

Yahoo Newsvia CNN
Mar 4, 2026
tl;dr

Donald Trump said he plans to endorse either John Cornyn or Ken Paxton in Texas’ Republican Senate runoff and urge the other to leave the race. Republican senators are pressing Trump to back Cornyn, while Paxton has criticized Cornyn and Ted Cruz says he will remain neutral.

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 promising to endorse one Senate candidate and press the other to withdraw

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Ken Paxton
R · TX

Republican Senate candidate seeking Trump’s endorsement

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

Republican Senate candidate backed by senators seeking Trump’s endorsement

Cornyn's version of this story ↗

Democratic Senate candidate who will face the Republican nominee

Democratic representative mentioned as another potential Republican opponent

John Barrasso
R · WY · SEN

Senate Republican urging support for Cornyn

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader pressing Trump to endorse Cornyn

John R. Curtis
R · UT · SEN

Senator urging Republicans to rally behind Cornyn

Ted Cruz
R · TX · SEN

Senator who said he would remain neutral in the runoff

Part of a bigger story

23 OUTLETS
Trump Says He Will Endorse in Texas Senate Runoff and Urges Rival to Exit

Outlets agree that Trump said he would soon endorse either John Cornyn or Ken Paxton in the Texas Republican Senate runoff and ask the candidate he does not back to leave. Cornyn and Paxton advanced to the runoff after the primary. Left-leaning outlets frame the endorsement as Trump exerting influence over the Republican contest, highlighting both Cornyn’s bid for backing and Paxton’s stated refusal to leave. Center outlets largely report the pending choice and calls from Republican leaders for Trump to back Cornyn, while some also note the Democratic opportunity after James Talarico’s primary win. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Trump’s leverage and Republican unity, though Blaze Media argues he should not pressure either candidate.

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