MAY 19, 2026
Trump endorses Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in Texas Republican Senate primary runoff
President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in the Texas GOP Senate primary runoff on Tuesday, May 19, one week before the runoff election scheduled for May 26. Trump had stayed neutral throughout the primary campaign, in which Cornyn and Paxton topped a crowded field but neither cleared the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff. The Texas race has become the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history, with spending from both parties exceeding $100 million.
Trump announced his endorsement of Paxton on social media, writing: "Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN. Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness." Trump also said he worked well with Cornyn but that the senator "was not supportive of me when times were tough" and "was very late in backing me" in his presidential run.
Trump stated he decided to announce his endorsement after early voting for the May 26 runoff opened, following several months during which he remained publicly neutral. The day after the March 3 primary, Trump posted that the runoff "MUST STOP NOW" and that the candidate he did not endorse must "immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE," though an endorsement did not come for several more months. Multiple sources had reported at that time that Cornyn was expected to receive Trump's backing, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune spent months lobbying Trump to endorse Cornyn, arguing the incumbent was better positioned to defeat Democratic nominee James Talarico in November.
Cornyn responded to the endorsement in a statement on social media, writing that he had voted with Trump more than 99% of the time and calling on Texas Republican voters to consider which candidate would be the stronger general election nominee. Paxton responded by stating he was "incredibly honored" to have Trump's "COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT" and pledged to champion Trump's agenda in the Senate. Cornyn's campaign, aligned super PACs, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee had spent nearly $100 million in the primary campaign, repeatedly pointing to Paxton's legal and personal troubles, including a felony securities fraud indictment that was later settled, a 2023 impeachment by the Texas House in which he was subsequently acquitted, and his ongoing divorce proceedings.