Paxton, the state attorney general, finished just behind Cornyn in Texas’ March 3 primary. The winner is set to face Democrat James Talarico in the fall.
Bridget Bowman President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for Senate, dealing a massive political blow to longtime Sen. John Cornyn as he faces off against Paxton in an upcoming Republican primary runoff.
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“Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate,” Trump wrote in a lengthy post on Of the incumbent, meanwhile, Trump wrote, “John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough. ” Cornyn and Paxton advanced to a May 26 runoff after neither candidate won a majority of the vote in the March 3 primary, with the four-term senator narrowly ahead of Paxton, 42%-41%.
The nominee will take on Democrat James Talarico in the fall. Trump’s endorsement is the most powerful one there is in a GOP primary, and the president’s decision to back Paxton could put an end to Cornyn’s long political career, marked by more than two decades in the Senate following stints as state attorney general, state Supreme Court justice and a district court judge.that he is “incredibly honored” to have Trump’s support.
“I look forward to championing his America First agenda in the Senate! ” he wrote.
“Texas, get out and VOTE! Trump’s endorsement, after early voting in the runoff began Monday, comes after weeks of speculation about whether the president would weigh in on the race. He had seemed ready to back Cornyn after the March primary, but he laterof the race if Senate leadership agreed to nix the 60-vote threshold to end debate on legislation, known as the filibuster, in order to pass the measure.
Trump initially signaled that he wanted to avoid a divisive primary runoff, suggesting any candidate who he did not back, and both Cornyn and Paxton’s names will be on the ballot, even if one of them ends his campaign. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. , publicly called on Trump to back Cornyn in the race.
And Cornyn and allies have also made the case that he represents the party’s best chance at holding onto the Senate seat and avoiding any drag on the rest of the Republican ticket in Texas, given Paxton’s personal and professional controversies. Paxton was impeached on bribery and corruption charges in 2023, though the state Senate acquitted him.
Meanwhile, Paxton’s wife announced last year that she was divorcing Paxton on “biblical grounds. ” “I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we’ve worked so hard to build over these many years,” Cornyn said on March 3 after the runoff matchup became clear.
“There is simply too much at stake in this midterm election for our state and for our country. The final two years of President Trump’s agenda hangs in the balance. ”after multiple mass shootings, including one at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school, as well as Cornyn’s past criticisms of the president. In 2023, Cornyn saidsuggesting Trump wasn’t the most electable presidential candidate in 2024.
He did eventually endorse Trump. Cornyn also said that the criminal charges alleging that Trump mishandled classified documents“I want to tell you, the last time I felt this kind of energy in one room, I was actually at Mar-a-Lago when President Trump announced he was running again in 2024.
I don’t know if you remember, but it was right after the midterms, and everyone was turning on the president, the establishment, the media and most Republican elected officials in America were lining up against him. Not me,” Paxton told his supporters on primary night. Paxton later added that it was time to send Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Trump “some reinforcements” in Washington.
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