Wednesday, May 20Wednesday, May 20Trump’s Endorsement of Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Runoff President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, marking a significant shift in the race. Trump’s endorsement came after months of pressure from Senate Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), to back Cornyn. However, Trump opted for Paxton, a hardline ally, despite Cornyn’s longstanding GOP establishment support. The endorsement was announced during Trump’s "10-day GOP revenge tour," where he targeted Republicans who opposed his agenda, including Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) .
The move has sparked backlash within the GOP, with senators like Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) criticizing Paxton as "ethically challenged" and expressing disappointment in Trump’s decision. Trump’s endorsement is seen as a direct challenge to Cornyn, who had secured the most votes in the March primary but failed to reach a majority, forcing a runoff. Polls suggest a tight race between Paxton and Cornyn, with Democratic nominee James Talarico leading both in recent surveys .
Impact on GOP Unity and Senate Dynamics Trump’s endorsement of Paxton has deepened divisions within the GOP, particularly among Senate Republicans who rely on Trump’s support to advance their agenda. The decision is viewed as a retaliatory move against Cornyn, who Trump reportedly abandoned after the failure of the SAVE Act, a key immigration bill. Trump’s frustration with the Senate, including its rules and refusal to abolish the filibuster, has further strained relations. Senate Republicans now face a "combustible environment" as they attempt to pass must-pass legislation, including funding for ICE and Border Patrol, before June deadlines .
The Texas Senate race is rated "likely Republican" by the Cook Political Report, but Trump’s endorsement of Paxton could create vulnerabilities for the GOP in November. Democrats have seized on the endorsement as an opportunity to criticize Paxton’s record, including allegations of antisemitism linked to a Texas candidate he supports . Early voting in the runoff ends Friday, with Election Day on May 26.
House Democrats condemn Texas candidate for antisemitism and accuse a PAC of boosting her
news.yahoo.com · about 18 hours ago
Majority of voters say Trump is using his office for personal gain as president promises America is thriving As Americans struggle with soaring gas prices and high grocery bills, Trump boasted about the thriving country at a White House picnic
independent · about 21 hours ago
![Trumps revenge spree stuns Senate Republicans Senate Majority Leader John Thune — and most of the GOP conference — was reeling Tuesday from President Trumps snap endorsement of Ken Paxton in the Texas GOP Senate runoff. Why it matters: Thune (R-S.D.) called it Trumps decision. But its Thunes problem to pass Trumps agenda, with a trio of senators the president can no longer hurt.Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has been unbowed since announcing his retirement in July 2025 after clashes with Trump.Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) voted with Democrats Wednesday to advance an Iran war powers vote to debate.Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has a runoff May 26 but will enter it with Trump backing someone else.😓 Adding to Thunes degree of difficulty: a president sick of the Senate and its rules, and rank-and-file Republicans seething over Trumps knifing of Cornyn.I dont understand. He [Paxton] is an ethically challenged individual, said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).Im supremely disappointed, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said.Driving the news: Trumps endorsement of Paxton came in the middle of his 10-day GOP revenge tour.Cassidy fell Saturday, failing to make the runoff in Louisianas Senate primary.Horrible Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), as Trump called him, has his primary today.What were watching: The $72 billion reconciliation package will be the first test for the Senates newly combustible environment.I just came off the campaign trail. People love the president, Cassidy said. But I can tell you, a billion dollars for the ballroom … thats not where their head is, and thats not where my head is.Zoom out: Trumps relations with the Senate have sunk to new lows over his frustration with the Senate parliamentarian, Republicans refusal to abolish the filibuster, and GOP handwringing over ballroom security funding.Thune pronouncing himself not a big fan of the new $1.76 billion Department of Justice anti-weaponization fund this morning could have been the final straw.What theyre saying: Hes done with the Senate bullsh*t and Thune and all of them. They cant deliver, said a Trump confidante.The only reason the president was holding out for Cornyn was the SAVE Act, the confidante said. And when that became a lost cause, it was Why the f*ck should I support this guy?[Trump] saw some polling this weekend.… The polling showed Paxton will win in November. It might have been Paxtons polling. But its Texas, a Trump adviser said.⚡️ Zoom in: GOP lawmakers have several must-pass bills in the next five months, followed by several nice-to-pass pieces of legislation.Trump is demanding money for ICE and Border Patrol before June 1. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires June 12. The farm bill needs to pass by Sept. 30.Republicans are working to pass a housing bill to lower costs and looking for 60 votes on a bill to provide market structure for cryptocurrency.A reconciliation 3.0 package is still being discussed — with varying degrees of earnestness and snickering — in both chambers.🙀 The bottom line: Trump has always enforced GOP loyalty with raw fear, naked threats and decisive punishment.Now hell learn whether fear loses its hold on lawmakers who have already lost — or are staring at defeat.](https://images.axios.com/mPO6RnXk8EEjzanw0CnllKUsUP4=/0x0:7416x4172/1366x768/2026/05/19/1779233564738.jpeg)
Trumps revenge spree stuns Senate Republicans Senate Majority Leader John Thune — and most of the GOP conference — was reeling Tuesday from President Trumps snap endorsement of Ken Paxton in the Texas GOP Senate runoff. Why it matters: Thune (R-S.D.) called it Trumps decision. But its Thunes problem to pass Trumps agenda, with a trio of senators the president can no longer hurt.Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has been unbowed since announcing his retirement in July 2025 after clashes with Trump.Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) voted with Democrats Wednesday to advance an Iran war powers vote to debate.Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has a runoff May 26 but will enter it with Trump backing someone else.😓 Adding to Thunes degree of difficulty: a president sick of the Senate and its rules, and rank-and-file Republicans seething over Trumps knifing of Cornyn.I dont understand. He [Paxton] is an ethically challenged individual, said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).Im supremely disappointed, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said.Driving the news: Trumps endorsement of Paxton came in the middle of his 10-day GOP revenge tour.Cassidy fell Saturday, failing to make the runoff in Louisianas Senate primary.Horrible Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), as Trump called him, has his primary today.What were watching: The $72 billion reconciliation package will be the first test for the Senates newly combustible environment.I just came off the campaign trail. People love the president, Cassidy said. But I can tell you, a billion dollars for the ballroom … thats not where their head is, and thats not where my head is.Zoom out: Trumps relations with the Senate have sunk to new lows over his frustration with the Senate parliamentarian, Republicans refusal to abolish the filibuster, and GOP handwringing over ballroom security funding.Thune pronouncing himself not a big fan of the new $1.76 billion Department of Justice anti-weaponization fund this morning could have been the final straw.What theyre saying: Hes done with the Senate bullsh*t and Thune and all of them. They cant deliver, said a Trump confidante.The only reason the president was holding out for Cornyn was the SAVE Act, the confidante said. And when that became a lost cause, it was Why the f*ck should I support this guy?[Trump] saw some polling this weekend.… The polling showed Paxton will win in November. It might have been Paxtons polling. But its Texas, a Trump adviser said.⚡️ Zoom in: GOP lawmakers have several must-pass bills in the next five months, followed by several nice-to-pass pieces of legislation.Trump is demanding money for ICE and Border Patrol before June 1. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires June 12. The farm bill needs to pass by Sept. 30.Republicans are working to pass a housing bill to lower costs and looking for 60 votes on a bill to provide market structure for cryptocurrency.A reconciliation 3.0 package is still being discussed — with varying degrees of earnestness and snickering — in both chambers.🙀 The bottom line: Trump has always enforced GOP loyalty with raw fear, naked threats and decisive punishment.Now hell learn whether fear loses its hold on lawmakers who have already lost — or are staring at defeat.
axios · about 23 hours ago
Polls close in Kentucky, where Thomas Massie seeks to survive Trumps attacks as several states hold primaries – live President also endorses hardline ally Paxton over veteran senator for Senate race in Texas amid latest test of Trumps grip on GOPTrump endorses attorney general Ken Paxton in Texas Senate primarySign up for the Breaking News US emailTrump told reporters he is giving Iran until the weekend or early next week, to make a deal to end the war.He said that yesterday he was within an hour of deciding to resume bombing Iran but that his negotiators had reported progress in talks.I never tell anybody when. But they knew that we were very close. I would say we were. I was an hour away from making the decision to go today, and we would probably not be talking about a beautiful ballroom today. Wed be talking about that.I had made the decision, so they called up. They had heard I made the decision. They said, sir, could you give us a couple of more days because we think theyre being reasonable.Well, I mean, Im saying 2 or 3 days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday something. Maybe early next week, a limited period of time, because we cant let them have a new nuclear weapon. Continue reading...
theguardian · about 24 hours ago
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news.yahoo.com · 1 day ago
Trump endorses Maga warrior Ken Paxton in Texas Senate run-off Presidents tapping of controversial candidate could give Democrats an opening in Novembers midterm elections
financial times · 1 day ago
Trump backs Ken Paxton in crucial Texas Republican Senate run-off Polls show mixed results, with Paxton and Cornyn in close battle against Democrat James Talarico.
aljazeera · 1 day ago
Trump endorses scandal-ridden Ken Paxton in dagger to Cornyns Texas reelection bid over longstanding grudge Trumps endorsement of Paxton marks second move against sitting GOP senators in 2026
independent · 1 day ago
Trump endorses Paxton in Texas and attacks Kentuckys Massie again as six states vote in primaries – US politics live Contest seen as latest test of presidents grip on GOP as he tells reporters at White House that he will be endorsing candidate for senate race in TexasSign up for the Breaking News US emailTrump told reporters he is giving Iran until the weekend or early next week, to make a deal to end the war.He said that yesterday he was within an hour of deciding to resume bombing Iran but that his negotiators had reported progress in talks.I never tell anybody when. But they knew that we were very close. I would say we were. I was an hour away from making the decision to go today, and we would probably not be talking about a beautiful ballroom today. Wed be talking about that.I had made the decision, so they called up. They had heard I made the decision. They said, sir, could you give us a couple of more days because we think theyre being reasonable.Well, I mean, Im saying 2 or 3 days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday something. Maybe early next week, a limited period of time, because we cant let them have a new nuclear weapon. Continue reading...
theguardian · 1 day ago
Trump delivers 11th-hour endorsement to Paxton in Texas Senate runoff President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Republican Senate runoff on Tuesday, a day after the start of early voting.Why it matters: Senate Republicans spent months pleading with Trump to endorse incumbent Sen. John Cornyn over Paxton.Trump had posted that an endorsement was coming after the March 3 primary and said whoever didnt get his endorsement should drop out. That endorsement didnt materialize at the time. But the president faced significant pushback from MAGA allies at the idea of a Cornyn endorsement.Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and leadership-allied super PACs spent tens of millions backing Cornyn. Flashback: Cornyn received the most votes in the primary but did not get a majority. Polling has indicated a tight runoff race.The big picture: Whoever wins the May 26 runoff will face Democratic nominee James Talarico, who has led both Cornyn and Paxton in recent polling and holds a wide fundraising advantage.The Texas Senate race is rated likely Republican by Cook Political Report.Whats next: Early voting ends Friday. Election Day is May 26.
axios · 1 day ago
In deep blue California, Dems find a villain toxic enough to rival Trump: The power company
news.yahoo.com · 1 day ago