The power of President Donald Trump‘s endorsement looms over a top US Senate race as Republicans are continuing to waste millions of dollars to pick their nominee in Texas.
After the primary election earlier this month, incumbent Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn is now in a one-on-one runoff against Ken Paxton, the state’s scandal-plagued Attorney General.
Cornyn’s campaign spent $69 million – a gigantic amount – compared to just $5 million spent by Paxton’s camp, a warning sign that the incumbent’s healthy cash reserves haven’t been overwhelmingly decisive in the primary.
Cornyn also benefited from millions more in outside super PAC spending.
Initial rumors of a Cornyn endorsement in the runoff appear to have backfired for the Commander in Chief, as MAGA has since gone ‘ballistic,’ as characterized by Axios which notes that ‘pro-Trump figures such as Laura Loomer, Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec’ have all been boosting Paxton to appease the online MAGA base.
In a Saturday interview with NBC News, Trump responded ‘I like him. I always liked him,’ when asked if he would be backing Cornyn.
Washington insiders are pulling for Trump to back Cornyn, as top voices both in the Lone Star State’s grassroots circles as well as online are rooting for Paxton.
Hours after the primary concluded, Trump’s advisers hinted that they expected him to choose Cornyn, who already holds the seat, and slightly outperformed the MAGA favorite Paxton in primary, and a Cornyn campaign aide told the Daily Mail last week: ‘We will be the nominee.’
Texas Republican John Cornyn speaks to members of the media on primary night, March 3 2026 in Austin, Texas
President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2026
Texas Senate Candidate Ken Paxton speaks to supporters at a watch party on March 3, 2026 in Dallas, Texas
When asked if the White House confirmed that to the incumbent’s campaign, the aide responded, at the time ‘I didn’t say that. We are going to win the primary runoff. One way or the other.’
Republicans fear a three-month long runoff fight will hurt the eventual nominee, and Trump joining that chorus hours after the primary.
‘I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!’ the President announced last week. ‘Is that fair? We must win in November!!!’, he added.
At stake for Trump is whether he becomes a lame duck or the subject of impeachments and investigations, if Democrats take back control of Congress.
NBC additionally reported that Trump’s pick has to do a lot with ‘the SAVE America Act. A lot is going to determine — Republicans have to get that passed, because that will secure voting in this country.’
Paxton notably offered to entertain dropping out of his race under the condition that the SAVE Act, a voting security bill, was passed in Washington, DC.
‘I would consider dropping out of this race if Senate Leadership agrees to lift the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act,’ Paxton offered in an X post earlier this month.
The Democrat primary resulted in a defined winner, as Texas State Representative James Talarico defeated US Representative from Texas Jasmine Crockett.
Talarico, a 36-year-old state representative who gained traction through a savvy social media strategy, won by 52.4 percent to Crockett’s 46.2 percent.
Asked by NBC if electability in November was a factor in Trump’s endorsement in the GOP runoff, the President said, ‘No, I think they both win.’