John Cornyn’s unexpectedly strong primary performance against Ken Paxton has intensified pressure on Donald Trump to endorse ahead of a pivotal Texas GOP Senate runoff
Sen. John Cornyn defied expectations in the Texas Republican primary, finishing neck-and-neck with state Attorney General Ken Paxton and forcing a high-stakes runoff. National Republicans now believe the stronger-than-expected performance could prompt President Donald Trump to endorse Cornyn, after months of withholding support from either candidate. Party strategists say Trump’s backing could consolidate GOP voters and free up resources for other competitive Senate races.
The contest has become a proxy battle between the Republican establishment and the party’s conservative grassroots wing, with concerns that Paxton’s legal controversies could hurt the GOP in a general election matchup against Democrat James Talarico. While Paxton framed the race as a fight against Washington insiders, Cornyn’s allies argue he remains the party’s most electable option as control of the Senate hangs in the balance.