An endorsement from Trump would give both candidate a lift to their candidacy. Paxton presently leads Cornyn by 11 share factors in opinion polls.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump has mentioned that he’ll endorse a candidate within the U.S. Senate election in Texas in 2026, wherein two of his political associates are operating in opposition to one another.
Throughout a flight on the presidential plane, Air Drive One, to Italy and the Vatican Metropolis State for the funeral of the late Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church, Trump informed reporters within the White Home Press Pool that he appreciated each Cornyn and Paxton and lamented their rivalry for the Republican nomination.
“They’re each buddies of mine. I like them each,” Trump mentioned. “In a method, I want they weren’t operating in opposition to one another. However I like Paxton, I like Cornyn. They’re each good individuals, so I am going to decide someplace, however two superb males.”
Paxton has served because the legal professional normal of Texas, a statewide elected workplace, since 2015, and has been elected to a few phrases in that position. In 2023, he was impeached and suspended from workplace by the Texas Home of Representatives, by a big margin within the Republican-led physique, for numerous allegations of felonious conduct associated to the usage of his workplace for private favors. He was later acquitted in a trial by the Texas Senate.
Each Paxton and Cornyn have been longstanding figures in Texas politics. Paxton served for 12 years in each homes of the state legislature, whereas Cornyn preceded Paxton as legal professional normal from 1999 to 2002. Earlier than then, he was an affiliate justice of the Supreme Court docket of Texas, which is an elected place within the state. Apart from Paxton and Cornyn, just one candidate—Rennie Mann, the president of an area college board in central Texas—has entered the race.
Endorsements for each candidates have come from outstanding figures. Cornyn has been endorsed by a number of of his Senate Republican colleagues, together with Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.), who beat Cornyn within the Convention’s management election on the finish of 2024. He has additionally been endorsed by the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the Senate GOP’s official marketing campaign group that works to win elections for the get together.
In the meantime, Paxton has been endorsed by U.S. Reps. Lance Gooden and Troy Nehls (R-Texas), in addition to former Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has declined to make an endorsement within the race.
Paxton and Cornyn’s campaigns didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.