Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas GOP runoff for U.S. Senate one week before voting ends. The endorsement came after weeks of a bruising and expensive primary fight. Trump framed Paxton as a fighter who can win and emphasized loyalty to the cause of greatness. Paxton had argued that Cornyn was not aligned with the MAGA base and the direction of the Republican Party. Cornyn’s campaign highlighted multiple scandals involving Paxton, including divorce filings, a securities fraud felony indictment that was settled, and an impeachment vote in 2023 followed by acquittal. The primary is described as the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history, with Democrats seeking to benefit from Trump’s unpopularity in November.
""Ken Paxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN." Trump wrote in part on social media. "Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness." Trump's last-minute move to back Paxton is an effort to essentially end the race after weeks of a bruising fight in a state Democrats see as a potential stretch pickup opportunity in November."
"Cornyn, Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt each vied for Trump's endorsement ahead of the primary election, but the president declined to pick one of them, noting that he liked all three candidates. Paxton argued that Cornyn was not in touch with Trump's MAGA base and the direction of the Republican Party. Cornyn's campaign highlighted a series of scandals that have plagued Paxton, including his wife filing for divorce on "biblical grounds," a felony indictment for securities fraud that was later settled and an impeachment vote in 2023, where he was later acquitted."
"The Texas race has become the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history, with both parties spending well over $100 million total so far. That number will continue to climb as Democrats look to capitalize on Trump's unpopularity to make a play in several Republican-held Senate seats."
Read at www.npr.org
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