Texas GOP Runoff Ends Tuesday as Trump Endorsement Gives Paxton Edge Over Cornyn
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 23
Texas GOP Runoff Ends Tuesday as Trump Endorsement Gives Paxton Edge Over Cornyn
7 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 23
Tuesday’s runoff will decide whether John Cornyn or Ken Paxton becomes the Texas GOP Senate nominee after a 13-month, $135 million primary fight that ended March 3 with Cornyn at 42% and Paxton at 40.5%.
Trump’s endorsement this week shifted momentum toward Paxton, whose campaign has already pivoted to general-election messaging, while GOP operatives say the smaller, more hardline runoff electorate naturally favors him.
Cornyn is trying to overcome that by using his financial advantage to expand turnout beyond typical runoff voters, arguing Paxton’s legal and ethical baggage could endanger a seat Republicans need to protect.
Early-vote data offered no clear leader: analyst Ross Hunt called it "basically just a wash," with 85% of voters returning from the March primary and only 3% new primary voters.
The result will test whether Texas Republicans prefer Cornyn’s establishment electability case or Paxton’s anti-establishment MAGA appeal, with Democrat James Talarico waiting in what both sides expect to be a competitive general election.
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$125 Million Texas Republican Senate Runoff: Trump, Paxton vs. Cornyn, and the Fight for the GOP’s Soul
Overview
As the May 26, 2026 Texas Republican Senate runoff approached, former President Donald Trump broke his earlier neutrality and endorsed Ken Paxton in the final week, citing frustration with the Senate’s failure to advance his SAVE America Act. This late endorsement was seen as a decisive move, energizing Trump’s base and potentially swaying undecided voters. Trump’s support for Paxton, who backs ending the filibuster to pass key legislation, highlights his ongoing effort to shape the Republican Party by promoting candidates aligned with his agenda. The endorsement underscored the high stakes and deep divisions within the GOP.