Rep. Wesley Hunt backs Paxton after Trump endorsement

Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, backed his former opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in the state's Senate primary after President Donald Trump weighed in to back Paxton.

"Today, President Donald Trump has made his position unmistakably clear in the Texas Senate race, he is fully backing Attorney General Ken Paxton, and SO AM I," Hunt said. "He has the total and complete endorsement of President Donald Trump, and he has mine as well.

NOW is the time to come together, fight TOGETHER, and deliver a strong America First victory for Texas and for our nation."

Hunt was eliminated in the first round of the primary, finishing third. Though he had long been critical of Cornyn throughout the race, he did not immediately back Paxton, amid speculation that Trump planned to lend his support to Cornyn. After the first round, Trump announced that he would make an endorsement and ask the non-recipient to drop out.

Paxton then offered to drop out if Cornyn could secure passage of the SAVE America Act, a marquis voter ID bill that has languished in the upper chamber. Cornyn was unable to do so and Paxton remained in the race.

Trump, for his part, held off endorsing a candidate until Tuesday, one week from the runoff.

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