US President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid to unseat incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the upcoming Republican primary runoff. By siding with Paxton, Trump is backing a politician who has long been an ally while also carrying a significant amount of political baggage.
Democrats view Paxton as the weaker candidate, seeing an opening to flip a traditionally Republican seat in Texas. This has raised concerns among Senate Republicans, many of whom have known Cornyn for years and consider him a friend and political ally.
Prominent Republicans such as Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski expressed disappointment over Trump's endorsement of Paxton, labeling him as 'ethically challenged'. In contrast, Trump praised Paxton, claiming he has faced adversity and emerged victorious.
Throughout his tenure as attorney general, Paxton has supported Trump's controversial efforts to contest the 2020 election results and has recently settled a federal corruption indictment without admitting guilt. He was also impeached by the Texas legislature in 2023 over allegations of fraud but was acquitted in a Senate trial.
Paxton's political journey has been marked by scandals, including a federal indictment settlement, an impeachment trial, and allegations of personal misconduct including his divorce based on claims of infidelity.
In his endorsement, Trump emphasized the need for a strong nominee to combat the challenge posed by Democrat James Talarico in the general election, asserting that voters must choose between a robust candidate or a weaker one who could jeopardize Republican dominance in Texas.
As early voting begins in the primary, polls indicate a close race between Cornyn and Paxton, raising the stakes for both candidates as they prepare to face off for the Republican nomination.
