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Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton over John Cornyn roils Texas Senate race

Trump’s endorsement of Paxton over Cornyn reshaped the Republican runoff and drew concern from Senate Republicans.

Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton over John Cornyn roils Texas Senate race
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 The Hill, with credit to the original publisher.

The Hill78/100 HIGH

270 stories · 78–79 · updated Oct 7, 2026

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

Yahoo Newsvia The Hill
May 19, 2026
tl;dr

Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’s Republican Senate runoff, jolting Senate Republicans and changing the race’s political dynamics. The article reports that polling and fundraising favored Cornyn, while the endorsement could give Democrats an opening in the general election.

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27 VOTES
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Donald Trump R · President of the United States
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People in this story

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Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Ken Paxton

PRIMARY SUBJECT
John Cornyn
R · TX · SEN

Texas senator seeking the Republican nomination against Ken Paxton

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

Texas Senate candidate and recipient of Trump’s endorsement

Paxton's version of this story ↗

Democratic Texas Senate candidate who could face the Republican nominee

Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Maine senator who criticized Trump’s decision to endorse Paxton

Mitch McConnell
R · KY · SEN

Former Senate majority leader referenced in a description of the primary’s factions

John Thune
R · SD · SEN

Senate majority leader who endorsed Cornyn and commented on the party’s prospects

Lisa Murkowski
R · AK · SEN

Alaska senator who said the Republican majority was in jeopardy

Bill Cassidy
R · LA · SEN

Louisiana senator whose recent Republican primary loss is cited as context

Tim Scott
R · SC · SEN

South Carolina senator who endorsed Cornyn the previous year

Part of a bigger story

84 OUTLETS
Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Runoff

Outlets agree that President Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate runoff. Left-leaning outlets often stress that the endorsement could weaken Republicans in November and help Democrat James Talarico. Center outlets report the endorsement and reactions, including Republican concerns about its effects on the race and the party’s prospects. Right-leaning outlets often present Trump’s backing as a boost for Paxton and emphasize his rationale, though some also examine electoral risks or Republican dissent.

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