"Senate Republicans reacted with dismay to President Donald Trump's endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's (R) primary campaign against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), openly expressing their fears it would make it harder and more expensive for Republicans to keep the seat. Cornyn is in the fight of his political life in the May 23 primary runoff election against Paxton, and it has been a viciously brutal battle."
"Trump initially declined to endorse for the primary, but posted on Truth Social that he would throw his support behind a candidate soon one day after the initial primary held earlier this year, urging whoever didn't get his endorsement to drop out. Multiple media outlets reported the president was initially expected to endorse Cornyn, but Paxton tweeted a Hail Mary that seems to have been effective in delaying an endorsement for his rival, pledging he would drop out if Senate leadership lifts the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act, a bill Trump vehemently supports."
"The president finally made his endorsement Tuesday, teasing the pending announcement that morning, and then writing a long Truth Social post lauding Paxton as someone who has always been extremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT and dunking on Cornyn as someone who is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough."
"Cornyn had already expressed his support for the SAVE Act but soon publicly declared his willingness to ditch the filibuster to get it passed, a position he had not taken before. A week ago, Cornyn introduced a bill to name a federal highway after Trump."
Senate Republicans reacted with dismay to President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his primary challenge to Sen. John Cornyn. Cornyn faces a May 23 runoff after a brutal primary battle. Cornyn is viewed as stronger for the general election because Paxton has faced scandals, lawsuits, and controversies, while Paxton has support from the MAGA wing due to combative far-right positions. Trump initially declined to endorse, then signaled support after urging non-endorsed candidates to drop out. Paxton delayed Trump’s endorsement by pledging to withdraw if Senate leadership lifted the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act, which Trump supports. Cornyn later shifted to support ditching the filibuster to pass the act and introduced a bill naming a federal highway after Trump. Trump ultimately endorsed Paxton with praise for loyalty to him and criticism of Cornyn’s support during difficult times.
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