Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the Republican nomination in the Texas U.S. Senate race on March 5, 2024 [1].
The move represents a significant blow to incumbent Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), as Trump bypassed the sitting senator to support a challenger during a critical phase of the primary cycle.
Trump announced the decision via a post on his Truth Social platform. "I’m endorsing Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate in Texas," Trump said [1]. The endorsement arrived one week before the scheduled runoff election [2].
Reports indicate that Trump faced pressure from his base to back the state attorney general [3]. Other accounts suggest that while advisers urged him to support Cornyn, Trump chose Paxton despite the legal baggage associated with the attorney general [4]. The decision is viewed as a result of a long-standing grudge Trump holds against Cornyn [4].
The Texas Republican Senate runoff is scheduled for March 19, 2024 [5]. The timing of the endorsement is designed to influence voters just before they head to the polls.
Reaction from within the party has been mixed. One unnamed Senate Republican said, "We’re disappointed with the President’s decision to skip Senator Cornyn" [1]. The shift in support creates a volatile dynamic for the incumbent, as some observers described the endorsement as "a dagger to Senator Cornyn’s reelection bid" [3].
Paxton has positioned himself as a staunch ally of the former president, while Cornyn has maintained a more traditional legislative approach in Washington. The endorsement signals a preference for the populist wing of the party over the established Senate leadership in Texas.
“"I’m endorsing Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate in Texas."”
This endorsement underscores the continued influence of Donald Trump over Republican primary dynamics, demonstrating his willingness to challenge incumbents to reshape the party's ideological profile. By backing Paxton over Cornyn, Trump is prioritizing loyalty and populist appeal over seniority and established legislative experience, which may polarize the GOP base in Texas ahead of the runoff.
