How Ken Paxton boxed out John Cornyn to win Donald Trump’s endorsement

Key Points:

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, initially trailing incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary, secured a crucial endorsement from former President Trump after a strategic move linking his potential withdrawal to Senate Republicans abolishing the filibuster for a Trump-backed voter ID bill.
• Trump's endorsement, delayed for 75 days amid internal party tensions and leaked intentions, shifted the dynamics of the May 26 runoff, making Paxton the front-runner despite concerns from Senate GOP leaders about his electability due to past scandals.
• The endorsement reflects Trump's preference for loyal allies and comes after his recent political successes in Louisiana and Indiana, while Cornyn's earlier criticism of Trump and partnership with Democrats on gun legislation strained his support within the party.
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sees Trump's backing of Paxton as advantageous for Democrats, though White House officials remain confident in Republican strength in Texas, a state that has not elected a Democrat statewide in three decades.
• Paxton's campaign maintained momentum through targeted ads and appearances at Trump-aligned events, while Cornyn attempted to appeal to Trump supporters by introducing pro-Trump legislation, but ultimately, Trump's late intervention favored Paxton.