President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he will announce his endorsement in the Republican runoff for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, a race that pits incumbent Senator John Cornyn against Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Cornyn, who has been a member of the Senate since 2003, and Paxton emerged from a three-way primary in March without either securing a majority, setting up a May 26 runoff. Both candidates have worked to position themselves as close to Trump, but some Republican leaders have expressed concern that Paxton could put a usually secure Republican seat at risk.
"I’ve pretty much always known who I was going to endorse, but I just thought this was a good time ... the voting is starting, and I thought this was a good time," Trump said, and added that he would make the formal announcement at 12:30 EDT/1630 GMT.
Paxton, described by allies as a vigorous supporter of Trump, has faced substantial opposition spending. Campaign expenditures by backers of Cornyn exceeded $60 million against Paxton during the contest, with Cornyn receiving backing from Senate Republican leadership.
Political analysts cited in reports view Paxton as the favorite in the November general election, though they caution that his path to victory is not assured given a record of scandal-related controversy. Those controversies include an FBI investigation that preceded a 2023 impeachment; Paxton was later acquitted.
Trump told reporters he has a strong electoral record in Texas, saying, "I won Texas all six times, meaning primaries and the race, and I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, and I love Texas." Trump carried the state by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024 but had not previously endorsed a candidate in this primary, a withholding of support that had been viewed as a setback for Cornyn’s bid for a fifth Senate term.
The eventual winner of the Republican runoff will face Democratic nominee James Talarico in the general election. Talarico, a state lawmaker, has explicitly appealed to independents and moderates in a state long dominated by Republicans.
Key details
- Trump to announce endorsement at 12:30 EDT/1630 GMT.
- Runoff between Cornyn and Paxton set for May 26 after neither won a majority in March three-way primary.
- Paxton overcame more than $60 million in spending against him; Cornyn had backing from Senate Republican leadership.
Contextual note
Reports referenced analysts who see Paxton as favored for the November general election but note uncertainty due to his past scandals, including an FBI investigation and subsequent 2023 impeachment and acquittal.