Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary runoff for the US Senate, boosting the hardliner's bid to unseat incumbent John Cornyn. The former president praised Paxton as an 'America First Patriot' and 'MAGA Warrior' on social media, ahead of the 26 May vote.
Paxton and Cornyn face a runoff after neither secured a majority in the March primary. Trump criticised Cornyn for being 'very late' in supporting his 2024 White House bid, while Cornyn has warned that Paxton is a 'weak nominee' who risks losing to the Democrat, James Talarico.
Paxton has been embroiled in controversies, including an acquittal in a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges and a 2024 deal to end a securities fraud case. Despite this, Vice President JD Vance said Paxton 'was there for the country and for the president when it really counted'.
Democrats have nominated Talarico, a state representative who raised a record $27m in the first quarter of 2026. He said it 'doesn't matter' who wins the Republican runoff, adding that his campaign is against 'billionaire mega-donors and their corrupt political system'.
