Trump Backs Ken Paxton in Texas Primary Runoff

Donald Trump backed Ken Paxton in the texas primary runoff last week, giving the Texas attorney general another push in his race against John Cornyn. The winner of Tuesday’s Republican runoff will face Democrat James Talarico in November.

Trump and Paxton

Trump described Paxton as “a true Maga warrior” after announcing the endorsement. Paxton, the state attorney general, is trying to overcome Cornyn’s narrow edge from the March 3 primary and turn the runoff into a path to the general election.

Paxton and Cornyn advanced to the runoff after neither won outright in the March 3 vote. Cornyn, a four-term incumbent, had already built a record in the Senate that included helping the party raise millions of dollars and working with Democrats on bipartisan bills.

Cornyn’s Senate record

In 2022, Cornyn helped negotiate a bipartisan gun safety bill. Supporters of Paxton are casting the race in different terms. Jim Tubbesing, speaking in McKinney, Texas, said, “Paxton is more conservative,” and added, “He has been good for Texas. I vote for the policy, not the fact that he’s alleged to have done something.” He also called Cornyn, “Rino: Republican in name only.”

That split captures the fight inside the runoff: Cornyn’s allies point to a long Senate record, while Paxton’s supporters are backing a candidate Trump elevated despite his impeachment and indictment. Jon Taylor described Cornyn as “He’s like the last of the old-guard Republicans in this state, someone who could – in some respects – trace his lineage back to both George Herbert Walker Bush and George W Bush.” Cal Jillson called him a “calm, serious, problem-oriented politician.”

The runoff winner will meet James Talarico, a state legislator described as having a groundswell of popularity, in November. Talarico is seeking to become the first Democrat in more than 30 years to win statewide office in Texas, and Paxton’s liabilities could make that race harder for Republicans if he advances.