All articles tagged with #ken paxton
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.
Senate GOP Leader John Thune urged President Trump to endorse Texas Sen. John Cornyn early to potentially blunt a costly May runoff against Ken Paxton, arguing an early endorsement could save money and keep focus on Democrats. Cornyn leads Paxton by late vote counts, and allies say a Trump endorsement could be “enormously helpful.” The live feed also covers a House Ethics probe into Tony Gonzales, criticism of IRS CEO Frank Bisignano at a Ways and Means hearing, and other Capitol Hill races and developments.
Rep. Chip Roy advances to a runoff to succeed Texas AG Ken Paxton after Middleton led him by double digits with most votes counted; the race has become a Trump loyalty test, with Trump withholding an endorsement, while Roy—House Freedom Caucus policy chair and Cruz ally—faces state Sen. Mayes Middleton, who is seen as the runoff favorite with strong MAGA credentials amid Paxton’s bribery and abuse charges.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a MAGA favorite, is poised to win the GOP primary for the Senate against longtime incumbent John Cornyn, with polls showing Paxton ahead and a runoff likely; his impeachment acquittal and past investigations haven’t slowed his rise, aided by deep donor support and grassroots energy, while Trump has not endorsed and Democrats warn his baggage could threaten Republicans in November.
Texas voters head to the polls for high-stakes primaries, with five major storylines: Cornyn’s Senate bid facing Paxton and Hunt amid a record $70 million in support, a competitive Democratic race between Crockett and Talarico, the Paxton replacement race on the GOP side, Abbott-backed contenders shaping key statewide posts, and a costly fight over tort reform in the Texas House — all of which could produce May runoffs and set the stage for November.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn launches a costly, aggressive campaign against Attorney General Ken Paxton to push the race into a runoff, aligning with Trump at times and attacking Paxton on personal grounds while Paxton defends his record and leads in polls in a three-way race. The fight has already drained campaign funds and could shape down-ballot GOP fortunes depending on how the runoff plays out, with both sides preparing for a protracted, high-stakes battle.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced investigations into Dallas ISD, North East Independent School District in San Antonio, and Manor ISD over student protests against immigration enforcement, alleging district officials helped organize or failed to ensure safety and minimize disruptions. The probe seeks records on leave policies, security procedures, internal communications and use of public funds to determine if any laws were violated, as part of a broader crackdown on districts and protests surrounding ICE.
New public polling released Feb. 9 shows Republican Ken Paxton leading incumbent Sen. John Cornyn by 7 points and Democrat Jasmine Crockett leading state Rep. James Talarico by 8 points in Texas’ U.S. Senate primaries, with about 12% still undecided; early voting begins Feb. 17, and general-election matchups show little difference between parties.