Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP Senate primary against longtime Senator John Cornyn one week before a runoff election. Trump said Cornyn was a good man but was not supportive during difficult times. The endorsement was published on Truth Social and emphasized Paxton as a strong supporter of terminating the filibuster and the SAVE Act. Cornyn had previously said he supported suspending the filibuster to pass the bill, and he denied seeking Trump’s favor. Paxton faced controversy, including impeachment by the Texas House in 2023 over alleged misuse of power, an affair revealed during the trial, and acquittal by the Texas Senate. Lisa Murkowski warned the seat could be jeopardized, and the winner will face Democrat James Talarico.
"“John Cornyn is a good man,” Trump wrote, “and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough.” The president had withheld his endorsement in the race, reportedly to pressure Cornyn to support eliminating the filibuster to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. In his endorsement, Trump stated that Paxton was “a Strong Supporter of TERMINATING THE FILIBUSTER” and the SAVE Act."
"Cornyn, writing in a New York Post op-ed last week, said he supported suspending the filibuster to pass the bill. Analysts saw the move as an effort to win Trump's favor, a claim that Cornyn denied. Paxton has a history of controversy and scandal. The Texas House of Representatives impeached him in 2023, alleging numerous misuses of power."
"During the trial, an extramarital affair was revealed. The Texas Senate voted to acquit Paxton. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reportedly said of Trump's endorsement of Paxton “that this puts that seat in jeopardy.” Whichever candidate wins the Republican primary will face state Representative James Talarico (D-Austin)."
Read at The American Conservative
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