Trump Endorsement Looms as Cornyn and Paxton Battle in Texas Senate Runoff

Neither Republican candidate is backing down ahead of the May 24 primary runoff election.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:18am

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President Donald Trump has promised to endorse one of the two Republican candidates in the Texas Senate runoff, but incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton have both refused to withdraw from the race. The two are engaged in a heated campaign, with Cornyn highlighting allegations against Paxton and Paxton framing himself as the more Trump-aligned candidate. The runoff election on May 24 is expected to draw a more conservative, activist Republican electorate, potentially giving Paxton an advantage despite Cornyn's narrow lead in the initial primary.

Why it matters

The Texas Senate race is a key battleground in the Republican party's efforts to maintain control of the upper chamber of Congress. Trump's endorsement could be a deciding factor, but his indecision has left both candidates fighting to prove their MAGA credentials to the party's base. The outcome of the runoff will shape the future direction of the Texas GOP and have national implications for the balance of power in the Senate.

The details

Cornyn finished ahead of Paxton in the March 3 primary, but neither candidate secured a majority, triggering a runoff election on May 24. Cornyn's campaign has released ads highlighting allegations of misconduct against Paxton, including an affair and impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House. Paxton has denied the corruption accusations and is framing himself as the more Trump-aligned candidate, with a new ad criticizing Cornyn's past criticism of the former president. A pro-Paxton super PAC has also aired ads with similar messaging in Florida, where Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort is located, in an effort to catch the former president's attention.

  • The March 3 primary election resulted in a runoff between Cornyn and Paxton.
  • The runoff election is scheduled for May 24, 2026.
  • Trump has said he plans to endorse one of the candidates 'this week'.

The players

John Cornyn

The incumbent Republican U.S. Senator for Texas, who finished ahead of Paxton in the initial primary but failed to secure a majority.

Ken Paxton

The Republican Attorney General of Texas, who is challenging Cornyn in the Senate runoff and is positioning himself as the more Trump-aligned candidate.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who has promised to endorse one of the candidates in the Texas Senate runoff.

James Talarico

The Democratic state Representative who is the party's nominee for the general election.

Joshua Blank

The director of research for the Texas Political Project at the University of Texas, Austin, which conducts statewide polls.

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What they’re saying

“Cornyn has always had a weakness with the most conservative voters in the electorate.”

— Joshua Blank, Director of Research, Texas Political Project at the University of Texas, Austin (ksgf.com)

“Whoever has good data and knows who their supporters are and turns them out will win.”

— Dave Carney, Veteran Texas Republican Strategist (ksgf.com)

What’s next

Trump is expected to endorse one of the candidates this week, which could significantly impact the outcome of the May 24 runoff election.

The takeaway

The Texas Senate runoff has become a proxy battle within the Republican party, with Cornyn representing the more traditional wing and Paxton positioning himself as the MAGA-aligned candidate. Trump's endorsement could be a decisive factor, but the smaller, more conservative electorate of a runoff election may give Paxton an advantage despite Cornyn's initial lead.