Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Runoff, Boosting Indicted AG Over 23-Year Senator
Updated
Updated · The Atlantic · May 22
Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Runoff, Boosting Indicted AG Over 23-Year Senator
15 articles · Updated · The Atlantic · May 22
Trump’s backing, delivered just days before Tuesday’s Texas Senate primary runoff, is likely to give Paxton the edge over incumbent John Cornyn after an 11-week wait.
The endorsement rewards Paxton’s long loyalty to Trump and reflects grassroots Texas conservatives’ embrace of the attorney general despite years of legal and ethical scandals.
Paxton has survived a 2015 securities case, a 2023 impeachment and a $6.6 million whistleblower settlement, while building his brand through more than 100 lawsuits against the Biden administration.
Cornyn’s allies had pushed Trump to support the 23-year senator, but many Republicans now fear Paxton would be a weaker November nominee in a state Democrats have not won for Senate since 1988.
Cook Political Report has said a Paxton nomination would make Texas a fully competitive general-election race, potentially forcing Republicans to spend heavily to defend a longtime stronghold.
How does record spending influence voter choice versus a candidate's perceived loyalty?
With primary spending over $122 million, what is the true cost of a nomination?