On Tuesday, President Donald Trump endorsed Texas AG Ken Paxton over Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. He posted on Truth Social that Paxton is an “America First Patriot,” highlighting that he is very loyal to the MAGA movement and Trump himself.
His endorsement of Paxton puts him at odds with his party's establishment, which is convinced that Cornyn is the better candidate for November's general election.
Cornyn has been at odds with Trump before, notably when he said Trump couldn’t win the 2024 presidency. However, he normally backs Trump’s agenda in Washington, D.C., even the plan for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, when he criticized it at first.
Trump said Cornyn is a “good man” who was very late in backing his 2024 campaign, according to The Christian Post.
The Texas Tribune says the Cornyn campaign has made the case that Paxton's candidacy, given his ethical and personal baggage, would endanger Republican control of both the Senate seat and down-ballot races.
Paxton and Cornyn qualified for the May 26 runoff after a March 3 primary, while Rep. Wesley Hunt finished third and did not advance.
Cathie Adams is a former Texas GOP Chair.
“I am one of those Texans who care more about moral issues. I know his wife, Angela Paxton, and I know that she filed for divorce based on moral issues, biblical issues. That weighs very heavily in my mind and my thinking,” says Adams. “It is not that he's been divorced, only. It is that he has had — according to everything I'm reading — multiple different women on the side, and that is a big flaw for Ken Paxton.”
Adams said she does think Paxton has done a good job as Texas Attorney General.
"Has John Cornyn done a perfect job as U.S. Senator? Not a perfect job, and so both men have different problems," Adams says.
Early voting in the runoff primary began on Monday.
