Trending Now - Trump's Endorsement Creates Tension in Texas Senate Race

WHO:

President Trump

Sen. John Cornyn (Republican, Texas)

Ken Paxton (Texas Attorney General, Republican)

James Talarico (Texas state Representative, Democratic candidate)

U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (Republican, finished third in primary)

Sen. Ted Cruz (Republican, Texas)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (Republican, South Dakota)

National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)

Lone Star Liberty (pro-Paxton super PAC)

Dan Eberhart (oil drilling CEO, Republican donor)

WHAT:

President Trump announced he will endorse a candidate in the Texas Republican Senate primary "soon" and will ask the candidate he does not endorse to drop out.

The Texas Republican Senate primary resulted in a runoff election on May 26, 2026, between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.

Cornyn led the primary with less than 30,000 votes over Paxton, with 98% of the vote counted.

The primary was the most expensive Senate primary in history, with spending exceeding $110 million.

James Talarico won the Democratic primary against Jasmine Crockett.

Cornyn's campaign and aligned super PACs spent nearly $100 million on ads attacking Paxton.

Paxton stated he would not drop out of the race even if Trump endorses Cornyn.

WHERE:

Texas

The primary election took place in various locations across Texas.

Campaign events were held in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Waco, Texas.

WHEN:

The primary election occurred on March 3, 2026.

The runoff election is scheduled for May 26, 2026.

Trump made his announcement on March 4, 2026.

WHY:

Trump aims to consolidate support for the Republican candidate to focus on defeating the Democratic opponent, Talarico, in the general election.

Cornyn and his allies argue that Paxton's scandals and legal issues make him a less viable candidate against Talarico.

HOW:

Trump communicated his intentions through social media.

Cornyn's campaign is releasing videos and ads to highlight Paxton's ethical and personal issues.

The NRSC and other Republican leaders are lobbying for Trump's endorsement of Cornyn to streamline support for the runoff.

In a significant development, President Trump announced yesterday that he will endorse a candidate in the Texas Republican Senate primary "soon" and is urging the candidate he does not endorse to drop out of the race. The primary election, held last Monday, resulted in a runoff between Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, with Cornyn leading by less than 30,000 votes as the results were tallied. This primary has become the most expensive Senate primary in history, with spending surpassing $110 million, as Cornyn's campaign and aligned super PACs focused on attacking Paxton. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate James Talarico emerged victorious in his primary against Jasmine Crockett, setting the stage for a competitive general election. Despite Trump's potential endorsement of Cornyn, Paxton has stated he will not withdraw from the race, as Republican leaders, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, continue to lobby for Trump's support to consolidate their efforts against Talarico.