Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) USA 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, in Grapevine, Texas, U.S., March 28, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
(Washington, DC) – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is gaining major momentum in the Republican Senate primary after receiving President Trump’s endorsement.
Paxton is challenging incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, setting up a high-profile fight between the GOP establishment and the Trump-aligned wing of the party.
Following Trump’s endorsement, Paxton’s odds reportedly surged, giving his campaign a major boost and putting new pressure on Cornyn.
Cornyn has long been a powerful Republican senator, but Paxton is betting that Texas GOP voters want a more aggressive conservative fighter in Washington.
Trump’s backing instantly changes the race. In Republican primaries, especially in deep-red states like Texas, his endorsement can reshape fundraising, media coverage and voter enthusiasm almost overnight.
The race is now shaping up as one of the most important Republican primaries of the cycle — and a major test of whether Trump’s influence can take down another longtime incumbent.
