Trump to endorse in Paxton-Cornyn Senate runoff

Polling has shown Paxton with a clear lead. After the initial primary saw Cornyn place first, the president planned to issue an endorsement and ask the non-recipient to drop out of the race.

By Ben Whedon

Published: May 19, 2026 11:57am

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he planned to issue an endorsement in the Texas GOP Senate runoff between Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

"I'll be making an endorsement at 12:30-1PM today for the big race," he told reporters.

Trump's announcement follows Cornyn opining that "I think that ship has finally sailed," on the prospect of the president backing him in the runoff.

Polling has shown Paxton with a clear lead. After the initial primary saw Cornyn place first, the president planned to issue an endorsement and ask the non-recipient to drop out of the race.

Paxton then announced that he would drop out if Cornyn could secure passage of the SAVE Act, a marquis voter ID bill. Cornyn was unable to do so and Trump withheld his endorsement from either candidate.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.