President Donald Trump is putting his political influence to the test in Texas, backing Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn in a heated GOP Senate runoff.
The race has become one of the most closely watched Republican contests of the cycle because it pits a Trump-aligned conservative firebrand against an established Senate Republican with deep ties to party leadership.
Trump endorsed Paxton after staying out of the race for months, calling him a “true MAGA warrior” and criticizing Cornyn as insufficiently loyal during key moments in Trump’s political career.
Cornyn, who has served in the Senate for decades, pushed back by emphasizing his support for Trump’s agenda and arguing that he has voted with the president nearly all the time.
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The runoff winner will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in the general election. Talarico, a rising Democratic figure, is trying to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a U.S. Senate race in Texas.
That makes the Republican runoff especially important. Republicans currently hold only a narrow Senate majority, and Democrats are hoping that a bruising GOP primary could make the Texas race more competitive in November.
Paxton has built his national profile by filing lawsuits against Democratic administrations and aligning himself closely with Trump and the MAGA movement. He argues that Cornyn has not been sufficiently supportive of Trump on issues such as the border wall, immigration and the 2024 campaign.
Cornyn says Paxton’s scandals and legal troubles could create major problems for Republicans in a general election. He has warned that if Paxton becomes the nominee, national Democrats will pour money into Texas and force Republicans to spend heavily to defend a seat they normally expect to hold.
Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 before being acquitted by the state Senate. He has also faced personal controversy, including a public divorce filing by his wife.
Cornyn is backed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Party leaders argue that Cornyn is the safer general election candidate.
But Trump’s endorsement could reshape the race, especially among Republican primary voters who view loyalty to the president as a key test.
The Texas runoff also comes after Trump-backed forces helped defeat several Republican critics in recent primaries, including races in Indiana, Louisiana and Kentucky.
For Trump, the Paxton-Cornyn clash is another chance to show that his endorsement remains one of the most powerful forces in Republican politics.
For Republicans, the race carries a bigger risk: choosing between a candidate who may excite the MAGA base and one party leaders believe would be easier to defend in November.
Why It Matters
The Texas Senate race could become a major test of Trump’s power inside the Republican Party. If Paxton wins, it would show Trump can still reshape major GOP contests even against long-serving incumbents. If Cornyn survives, it would signal that establishment Republicans can still withstand Trump-backed challenges in certain states.
What Comes Next
Texas voters will decide the runoff winner, who will then face Democrat James Talarico in the general election. The outcome could affect Republican strategy, Senate spending and the broader fight for control of the chamber.
A related clip discussed the Texas Senate runoff between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn after Trump endorsed Paxton.
🚨 JUST IN: Ken Paxton is nearing a DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD over Sen. John Cornyn, SURGING into this Tuesday’s primary with the Trump endorsement
In some polling, Paxton leads by even more 🔥
Storm the polls, Paxton is ready to nuke the filibuster for SAVE! pic.twitter.com/8Pli338lgt
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 24, 2026
