Trump endorses Paxton, upending Senate GOP plans in Texas race
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Former President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP Senate runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, significantly impacting the race for Senate control.
- Trump criticized Cornyn for not supporting him during difficult times and praised Paxton as a tested "winner," despite Paxton's ongoing legal and ethical controversies.
- Cornyn has positioned himself as a stronger general-election candidate against Democrats, who are targeting the Texas Senate seat with state Rep. James Talarico as their nominee.
- Paxton has built his political identity on loyalty to Trump, including efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and support for Trump's 2024 campaign, despite facing impeachment and multiple scandals.
- The runoff election is set for next week with early voting underway, and Trump’s endorsement could sway GOP voters amid a broader pattern of Trump challenging establishment Republicans.