Trump Expected to Back Cornyn in High‑Cost Texas GOP Senate Runoff Against Paxton
President Trump is expected to endorse Sen. John Cornyn in the May 26 Texas GOP runoff against Attorney General Ken Paxton, after lobbying from Senate leaders and a Truth Social post urging the losing candidate to drop out. The contest has become one of the most expensive and acrimonious primaries — with Cornyn and allied groups spending tens of millions while Paxton’s backers say they can still win — raising GOP concerns it could drain resources ahead of the general, where Democrats have nominated James Talarico; third‑place finisher Wesley Hunt has declined to endorse either Republican.
📌 Key Facts
- A source tells Axios President Trump is expected to endorse Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas GOP Senate runoff against Attorney General Ken Paxton; Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly lobbied Trump for months to back Cornyn.
- Trump posted on Truth Social saying whichever candidate he does not endorse should drop out of the runoff, but neither Paxton nor Cornyn has agreed to drop out if they fail to receive his endorsement.
- The runoff between Cornyn and Paxton is set for May 26, 2026, after the March 4 primary in which Rep. Wesley Hunt finished third and formally conceded.
- Spending in the first round heavily favored Cornyn and his allies — AP reporting pegs their first‑round spending at nearly $70 million, while other reporting framed broader outside spending at roughly $100 million versus about $5 million for Paxton; Paxton has highlighted the spending gap and framed the result as proof 'Texas is not for sale,' and his operatives and donors say they remain confident they can overcome the deficit in the runoff.
- National Republican groups including the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund have publicly reiterated they will continue to back Cornyn in the runoff, with SLF saying it 'looks forward' to him securing the nomination.
- Cornyn’s camp circulated a memo blaming a 'Wesley Hunt vanity campaign' for forcing the runoff and arguing Paxton would be a risky general‑election nominee due to corruption and infidelity allegations; a pro‑Paxton PAC circulated a memo countering that 'Cornyn has no viable path' to the nomination.
- Cornyn framed the runoff as 'judgment day' for Paxton and says his team already has a specific plan to win the May 26 contest.
- Republicans privately view the Democrats’ nominee, state Rep. James Talarico, as a stronger general‑election opponent than Jasmine Crockett, and national GOP strategists worry an ugly, high‑cost Cornyn–Paxton runoff could drain money and attention from other key Senate races (including North Carolina, Maine, Ohio and Alaska).
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
Nearly a week out from Texas
"The analysis comments on the high‑stakes Texas GOP Senate primary — warning that a Paxton nomination could cost Republicans the seat — and unpacks how Trump’s neutrality, massive ad spending, and intra‑party pressure are reshaping the contest and its midterm implications."
DAVID MARCUS: Ken Paxton devours John Cornyn as Texas GOP craves a fighter in Senate primary showdown
"The Fox News opinion argues that in the Texas GOP Senate primary Republican voters prefer the combative, Trump‑aligned Ken Paxton over long‑time incumbent John Cornyn—because primary electorates now reward fighters more than establishment electability, making Cornyn’s moderation a liability."
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 04, 2026
7:29 PM
Trump expected to endorse Cornyn in brutal Texas Senate runoff
New information:
- A source tells Axios that President Trump is expected to endorse Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas GOP Senate runoff against Attorney General Ken Paxton.
- Trump posted on Truth Social that whichever candidate he does not endorse in the runoff should drop out of the race.
- Reporting says Senate Majority Leader John Thune has lobbied Trump for months to back Cornyn, arguing Paxton is electorally toxic given his scandals.
- Republican strategists now see an even greater need for a Cornyn endorsement after James Talarico won the Democratic Senate primary and is viewed as a stronger general‑election opponent than Jasmine Crockett.
- Neither Paxton nor Cornyn has agreed to drop out if they fail to receive Trump’s endorsement.
5:58 PM
Republicans Cornyn and Paxton advance to Texas Senate runoff
New information:
- AP piece pegs Cornyn and allies’ first‑round spending at nearly $70 million, higher than the roughly $100M vs. $5M framing that included broader outside spending in the earlier story.
- Runoff is formally set for May 26, 2026, following the March 4 first‑round primary.
- Democrats have now officially nominated state Rep. James Talarico; Republicans privately see him as a stronger general‑election opponent than Jasmine Crockett even as they brand him a 'far‑left extremist'.
- National GOP strategists in the article openly worry that an ugly Cornyn–Paxton runoff could drain money and attention from other key Senate races in North Carolina, Maine, Ohio and Alaska.
- Cornyn’s camp circulates a memo blaming a 'Wesley Hunt vanity campaign' for forcing a runoff and arguing Paxton is a risky general‑election nominee due to corruption and infidelity allegations, while a pro‑Paxton PAC memo claims 'Cornyn has no viable path' to the nomination.
3:35 PM
Cornyn, Paxton ready to go for the throat in 2nd act of brutal primary campaign
New information:
- Cornyn framed the runoff as 'judgment day' for Ken Paxton in his election‑night remarks and said his team already has a specific plan to win the May 26 runoff.
- Paxton told supporters Cornyn spent 'around $100 million' versus roughly $5 million for his own campaign and cast the result as proof 'Texas is not for sale.'
- The National Republican Senatorial Committee and Senate Leadership Fund both publicly reiterated they will continue to back Cornyn in the runoff, with SLF saying it 'looks forward' to him securing the nomination.
- The article underscores that operatives and donors on Paxton’s side remain confident they can unseat Cornyn despite the spending gap, framing this as one of the most expensive primary fights in history.
12:07 PM
Texas GOP Rep Wesley Hunt vows political comeback, does not yet endorse Cornyn or Paxton
New information:
- Rep. Wesley Hunt finished third in the Texas GOP Senate primary and formally conceded on election night.
- In his concession speech, Hunt vowed this would not be the last time he appears on a ballot and said the GOP needs 'young leadership.'
- Hunt declined to endorse either Sen. John Cornyn or AG Ken Paxton in the upcoming May runoff, but pledged his 'undying support' to whoever wins the nomination to keep Texas red.
February 19, 2026