Cornyn Strikes Back After Trump Backs Paxton

Cornyn fires – Sen. John Cornyn pushed back after President Donald Trump endorsed his GOP primary runoff rival, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, arguing Texas Republicans must choose between a “strong nominee” and one he says could jeopardize down-ballot races. The endorse

For weeks, Sen. John Cornyn had been maneuvering for a prized kind of momentum in Texas: President Donald Trump’s endorsement. On Tuesday, that momentum appeared to have gone to his runoff opponent instead.

Trump backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary runoff. a decision Cornyn met with a direct warning to voters in a statement posted on social media. Cornyn wrote that he has “worked closely with President Trump through both of his Presidential terms and voted with him more than 99% of the time. ” adding that Trump has “consistently called me a friend in this race.”.

Then Cornyn turned the focus to November and down-ballot consequences. “It is now time for Texas Republican voters to decide if they want a strong nominee to help our GOP candidates down ballot and defeat [James] Talarico in November. or a weak nominee who jeopardizes everything we care about. I trust the Republican voters of Texas.”.

Cornyn had already hinted he expected the endorsement to slip away. On Monday. he told The Austin American-Statesman’s John Moritz that “I think that ship has finally sailed.” He also said he would be open to the kind of boost that comes with presidential attention—adding that Trump would “welcome a campaign visit by the president in the fall campaign” if Cornyn wins the primary.

The political stakes in Texas are hard to miss. The endorsement of Paxton, in a state considered deep red, is portrayed as a major blow to Cornyn’s reelection bid and an abrupt jolt to a campaign that had spent months courting Trump.

Cornyn and Paxton are not just rivals—they have a history of attacking each other publicly. Trump’s move carries extra sting because Cornyn has “long feuded with Paxton in public” and has gone out of his way to court Trump’s support. Last week. Cornyn announced a bill to name a highway in Texas after the president—an effort aimed squarely at aligning himself with Trump.

Trump’s endorsement also lands after Paxton has faced years of allegations that have dominated headlines, including “corruption and infidelity scandals.” Many Senate Republicans expressed dismay over Trump backing Paxton, who has been dogged by those issues.

The feud between the two men is visible in their own words. In February 2024. as Cornyn was considering a run to lead the Republican caucus in the Senate. Paxton tweeted: “It will be difficult for @JohnCornyn to be an effective leader since he is anti-Trump. anti-gun. and will be focused on his highly competitive primary campaign in 2026. Republicans deserve better in their next leader and Texans deserve another conservative Senator.”.

Cornyn shot back, writing: “Hard to run from prison, Ken.”

Even other Republicans sounded unsettled. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said: “I don’t understand it. He is an ethically challenged individual. John Cornyn is an outstanding senator and deserved. in my judgment. the president’s support. obviously it’s the president’s call. but I’m disappointed that he did it.”.

The endorsement of Paxton also fits into a broader political pattern Trump has been pursuing in the Senate—one that has left moderates and potential swing votes feeling pressure. Trump has been actively trying to purge the Senate of moderates and any potential swing votes against him.

Over the weekend, that push showed up in another race: Trump sank the reelection bid of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Cassidy had voted to impeach Trump following the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Cornyn’s response suggests the endorsement is more than a personal setback. He frames it as a test for Texas Republican voters: whether they want a nominee he calls “strong” enough to help GOP candidates down ballot and defeat James Talarico in November. or a nominee he argues could “jeopardize everything we care about.”.

With Trump’s backing now thrown behind Paxton, Cornyn’s campaign enters a new phase—less about courting a president’s favor, more about surviving it. And for voters in Texas, the message from the primary runoff is now unmistakably tied to what the endorsement could mean for November.

John Cornyn Ken Paxton Donald Trump Texas Senate GOP primary runoff James Talarico Susan Collins Bill Cassidy January 6 impeachment Trump endorsement