Can John Cornyn overcome Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton?
Austin American-Statesman • • nation
Key Points:
- U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent, is narrowly trailing in the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff and faces long odds after President Donald Trump endorsed his rival, Ken Paxton, last week.
- The article draws a parallel to Harry Truman's 1948 election upset, where Truman overcame dire polling and party divisions to win, suggesting a potential, though unlikely, comeback for Cornyn.
- Trump's endorsement has proven influential in recent GOP primaries, contributing to the defeat of several incumbents, underscoring the challenge Cornyn faces without that support.
- Cornyn has highlighted his strong alignment with Trump's agenda and even proposed renaming a highway after Trump, but he acknowledged the endorsement "ship has sailed" and is now appealing to non-primary voters to boost turnout.
- Given the typically low turnout in runoffs and the unpredictability of polling, Cornyn's campaign hinges on mobilizing voters who did not participate in the initial primaries, though this strategy carries significant risks.