All articles tagged with #john cornyn
Sen. John Cornyn told the New York Times that President Trump is headed for the 'most miserable two years' of his term as midterms approach and GOP leverage grows, noting past loyalty fractures and Trump’s feud with Cornyn after backing Ken Paxton, signaling a tougher political environment for Trump.
President Trump's last‑minute endorsement of Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate primary roiled Republicans, risking higher costs and a tougher path to hold the seat as Paxton heads toward a runoff against Cornyn‑backer James Talarico. Democrats see a potential opening to flip Texas and are ready to spend big, while GOP insiders warn the endorsement could backfire by weakening down‑ballot candidates and accelerating a costly statewide battle. Paxton's long history of controversy and fundraising gaps add to the uncertainty, even as Trump’s loyalty helps Paxton mobilize his base.
President Trump endorses Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate runoff against John Cornyn’s allies, as James Talarico remains the Democratic challenger who leads in recent polls and fundraising; the race is still viewed as likely Republican by Cook, with early voting ending Friday and Election Day on May 26.
President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff against Sen. John Cornyn, giving Paxton a major boost as early voting continues. Trump praised Paxton’s MAGA-aligned positions, including ending the filibuster and backing the SAVE America Act, while noting Cornyn’s late support for him. The move follows months of ads from both camps and tight polling, with Democrats signaling Paxton as beatable. The outcome could influence down-ballot races and the broader Texas political landscape.
President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, boosting a hard‑line ally ahead of the May 26 vote and showcasing Trump’s continued sway over GOP voters. Paxton portrays Cornyn as Washington‑establishment, while Cornyn highlights his Trump alignment; polls show a tight race as Democrats eyed the bruising primary for openings. The winner will face Democrat James Talarico in November. Trump has also backed other challengers in recent races, underscoring his influence in the party.
Ken Paxton leads John Cornyn by 3 percentage points (48% to 45%) in a University of Houston Hobby School poll of likely Texas GOP runoff voters, with a margin of error ±2.83 points from a 1,200-person sample. The race remains tight as supporters of Wesley Hunt tilt toward Paxton, and undecided voters could sway the May 26 runoff. Polls showing Paxton and Cornyn locked to their bases underscore turnout’s pivotal role, while other May runoff races (attorney general and railroad commissioner) also factor into the broader Texas GOP landscape.
Democratic state Rep. James Talarico leads both Republican contenders in a new Texas Public Opinion Research poll of the U.S. Senate race, with 44% to 41% against Sen. John Cornyn and 46% to 41% against Attorney General Ken Paxton (margin of error ±2.5 percentage points; 1,865 likely general election voters). The poll, conducted April 17–20, finds Talarico’s support strongest among voters of color, college-educated Texans and independents, while Cornyn and Paxton trail in favorability. The race remains contestable as Republicans head to a May 26 runoff; Cook Political Report labels the seat likely Republican. The article also notes broader GOP and Democratic dynamics in Texas races, including Abbott’s lead in the governor’s race and upcoming runoff contests. A correction later clarified initial sample size and margin-of-error figures. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.
Trump has not yet endorsed in Texas’ high-stakes GOP Senate runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, weighing two camps: Paxton’s MAGA-aligned base and Cornyn’s establishment-backed electability. A decision is anticipated soon amid heavy spending and vocal MAGA backlash, with a May 26 runoff looming after a costly primary and record Democratic turnout.
President Trump was poised to endorse Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Senate race, but MAGA activists and Paxton supporters have pressured him to hold off, with Paxton's scandals and the base's opposition shaping whether he ultimately backs Cornyn.
The 5 p.m. withdrawal deadline passed without any move by Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton, so both will appear on the May 26 Texas GOP Senate runoff ballot. With Trump undecided on endorsements, the race has become a focal point for the party’s clash over the SAVE America Act and filibuster reform, pulling both candidates into intraparty warfare.
President Trump is using the Texas GOP primary fight between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton to pressure Senate Republicans to back his top priority, a strict voter-ID bill via the SAVE America Act. Paxton’s hint at dropping out if the filibuster is bypassed has amplified the tactic, prompting Cornyn to shift on Senate-rule changes. Senate leaders say there aren’t enough votes to overcome the filibuster, highlighting intra-party tensions and Trump’s leverage over endorsements and the MAGA base as he seeks to bend the party toward voting-law changes.
Sen. John Cornyn says he would back scrapping the Senate filibuster if needed to pass the SAVE America Act and homeland security funding, signaling a reversal from his long defense of the rule as he courts Donald Trump’s endorsement in a tight runoff with Ken Paxton; the bill, which would require citizenship proof and voter ID, has Trump insisting it be enacted, while Paxton has tied his own position to the filibuster issue.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would consider dropping out of the U.S. Senate race if Senate GOP leaders agreed to abolish the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, a voter-ID bill championed by Donald Trump; the remark targets Cornyn amid ongoing Trump endorsement pressure and intra-GOP debates on ending the filibuster.
Trump’s rumored Texas Senate endorsement has sparked a wave of MAGA critique as a Cornyn-Paxton runoff looms after neither hit 50%. The Atlantic predicted a Cornyn endorsement, drawing fire from far-right voices urging Paxton and labeling Cornyn anti‑Trump. The race—costly and tightly watched—has seen about $100 million in spending, with Cornyn leading Paxton but not securing a runoff‑avoiding majority; Democrats posted record turnout in their primary, highlighting the high-stakes path to November.
Texas’ March 2026 primaries were the costliest in state history, setting up a bruising runoff season as money dominated races from the Senate to the down-ballot contests. The GOP Senate race ended in a runoff between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, while James Talarico narrowly defeated Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nomination. Across the ballot, Trump-backed candidates struggled to close gaps, incumbents were driven out or forced into runoffs due to mid-decade redistricting, and Texans for Lawsuit Reform faced notable defeats. The results suggest an intense, highly funded eight-month sprint toward the May 26 runoff and beyond.