GOP fears Trump endorsement could cost them prized Texas Senate seat

In a major shakeup for the Texas Senate race, President Donald Trump officially spurned four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday, opting instead to throw his support behind primary challenger Ken Paxton. Paxton, the state attorney general, has long campaigned as a Trump-inspired disruptor, despite facing a history of indictments and impeachment efforts.

The Endorsement

Trump signaled his backing on his Truth Social platform, where he posted: “Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN.” Trump specifically highlighted Paxton’s support for terminating the legislative filibuster and passing the Save America Act, a GOP-led legislative package focused on voter ID laws and election adjustments.

A High-Stakes Runoff

The endorsement lands just one week before the runoff election. While Cornyn narrowly outpaced Paxton in the March primary, he failed to secure the 50% majority needed to clinch the nomination, setting the stage for a showdown to face Democratic nominee James Talarico.

National Republicans are reportedly worried that a Paxton nomination could jeopardize the seat. Party officials have raised concerns regarding Paxton’s history of personal scandals, legal battles, and allegations of marital infidelity. Despite the state not electing a Democrat to the Senate since 1998, Talarico has emerged as a significant threat, serving as a fundraising powerhouse who remains competitive in recent polling.

The Battle for the Base

The race between Cornyn and Paxton has turned into the most expensive Senate primary ever recorded, according to AdImpact. Throughout the cycle, the two sides have engaged in a bitter war of words, with Cornyn’s camp leveling accusations of ethical and financial impropriety against the attorney general.

Cornyn, who has long operated as a Senate institutionalist and member of GOP leadership, has attempted to pivot toward the party's MAGA base. He recently voiced support for axing the filibuster and insists he remains a consistent ally to the former president. Addressing the new endorsement, Cornyn doubled down on his campaign: “It is now time for Texas Republican voters to decide if they want a strong nominee to help our GOP candidates down ballot and defeat Talarico in November, or a weak nominee who jeopardizes everything we care about.”

This development follows a broader trend of Trump-aligned shifts in the GOP, coming just days after the defeat of establishment Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana. As 205focus.com continues to track this race, the tension between traditional party leadership and the Trump-backed insurgent movement remains the defining story of the Texas primary.