Trump Endorses Ken Paxton in Texas Republican Senate Run-Off Election

US President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican run-off to represent the state of Texas in the US Senate. In a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed support for Paxton, citing his loyalty and association with the “MAGA movement”. He also mentioned that incumbent John Cornyn was not supportive during difficult times.

The endorsement comes ahead of next week’s Republican primary. To secure the party nomination in Texas, a candidate must win a clear majority. In the state’s primary election in March, neither Paxton nor Cornyn met this threshold. Texas has open primaries, allowing voters to participate in either party’s primary without being a member.

Recent polls have shown a tight race between Paxton and Cornyn. A poll from Texans for a Conservative Majority had Cornyn leading by 1 point, while another poll from Lone Star Liberty PAC showed Paxton ahead by 11 points. More independent polls have given Paxton a 3-point advantage over Cornyn.

Paxton has never lost an election despite facing controversy throughout his career, including adultery and indictment on felony securities fraud charges. He was also impeached by members of his own party. The Republican nominee will face James Talarico in the general election, with polls suggesting that Talarico is either favored or within a margin of error.

A recent poll from the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center found that Talarico is tied with Paxton in a general election matchup, while Cornyn would lead by 1 point. Other polls have shown varying results, including Talarico leading by 7 points against Cornyn or 8 points against Paxton.

Strategists believe Trump’s endorsement may hurt his relationship with the current Senate. Mark Jones, a professor of political science at Rice University, stated that Paxton would likely have won without Trump’s support and that the endorsement has alienated some Republican senators, including Senator Thune.

Source: Al Jazeera