{"id":300658,"date":"2026-05-20T02:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/300658\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T02:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:00:15","slug":"gop-in-disarray-as-trump-backs-notorious-scumbag-in-texas-senate-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/300658\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP in disarray as Trump backs notorious scumbag in Texas Senate race"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of sitting on the sidelines, President Donald Trump on Tuesday endorsed scandal-plagued<\/a> state Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas\u2019 Senate contest, ignoring the wishes of top GOP leaders and senators who view Paxton as a liability<\/a> in the must-win race.<\/p>\n

In a lengthy Truth Social post<\/a>, Trump said he is backing Paxton because Paxton has been \u201cextremely loyal to me and our AMAZING MAGA MOVEMENT\u201d while incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn \u201cwas not supportive of me when times were tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Sen.Attribution: APSen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks to the media on March 3 in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

The endorsement\u2014which came just one week before voters head to the polls for the runoff\u2014feels like the final nail in the coffin for Cornyn, who was desperately seeking Trump\u2019s blessing in order to fend off Paxton in the primary.<\/p>\n

Back in January, Cornyn even told The Dispatch\u2019s David Drucker that Trump\u2019s endorsement would end the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things the president could decide to do is, after the primary on March the 3rd, he could get involved then \u2026 And, as I\u2019ve told him, once he makes an endorsement, I said that basically, the race is over, and he knows that,\u201d Cornyn said<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Trump\u2019s ultimate endorsement of Paxton is somehow even worse than Cornyn could have imagined.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not only did Trump enthusiastically endorse Paxton, but he publicly criticized Cornyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn was very late in backing me in what turned out to be a Historic Run for the Republican Nomination, and then, the Presidency, itself,\u201d Trump complained.<\/p>\n

Related | How Democrats could be the big winners in Texas\u2019 GOP primary<\/a><\/p>\n

He then defended Paxton\u2014whose history of adultery, past indictments for corruption, and subsequent impeachment make him a risky bet<\/a> for Republicans in a pivotal year like 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaxton has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN. Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness,\u201d Trump wrote.<\/p>\n

Throughout the race, rank-and-file Republican lawmakers<\/a> were practically begging Trump to back Cornyn, viewing him as the safer and more electable GOP nominee.<\/p>\n

The National Republican Senatorial Committee\u2014which seeks to elect Republicans to the Senate\u2014had even publicly campaigned<\/a> against Paxton. That\u2019ll now be awkward if Paxton is indeed the GOP\u2019s candidate.<\/p>\n

\"TexasAttribution: APTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks during a campaign event on Feb. 16 in Tyler, Texas.<\/p>\n

At one point, right after the primary, it looked like Trump was leaning toward<\/a> backing Cornyn in the runoff. But Trump got cold feet<\/a> after MAGA personalities got angry<\/a> that Trump would choose Cornyn over Paxton.<\/p>\n

Still, Cornyn never gave up hope that Trump would endorse him, going as far as changing his long-held political opinions<\/a> to appease Dear Leader.<\/p>\n

In recent days, Cornyn continued to make embarrassingly desperate attempts to court Trump, introducing a bill to rename a highway<\/a> in Texas after the unpopular president and releasing polling<\/a> that showed a Paxton endorsement could risk Republicans losing Texas\u2019 Senate seat, multiple House seats, and control of the state Legislature.<\/p>\n

But that clearly didn\u2019t move Trump. At the end of the day, he demands total loyalty, which Cornyn didn\u2019t provide as he declined to endorse Trump in the 2024 GOP primary.<\/p>\n

Republicans immediately slammed Trump\u2019s decision to back a scandal-plagued Republican over Cornyn.<\/p>\n

Related | Republicans are speeding toward doomsday scenario in Texas<\/a><\/p>\n

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said<\/a> Trump\u2019s endorsement \u201cputs that seat in jeopardy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow does that help strengthen the president\u2019s hand when we lose a state like Texas?\u201d Murkowski told Semafor, adding<\/a> to Politico that the seat is all but lost for Republicans.<\/p>\n

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called<\/a> Paxton \u201can ethically challenged individual\u201d and said she is \u201cdisappointed\u201d that Trump endorsed him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters<\/a>, \u201cI think Paxton can win. I think it\u2019d be three times more expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TexasAttribution: APTexas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks at a primary election watch party on March 3 in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, while GOP leaders view Cornyn as the more electable Republican, polls show that Paxton and Cornyn ran similarly<\/a> against the Democratic nominee, Texas state Rep. James Talarico<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Multiple polls have shown Talarico ahead, a shocking result in a state like Texas that hasn\u2019t had a Democratic senator in more than 30 years.<\/p>\n

The GOP runoff is Tuesday, May 26, and Cornyn could still possibly win. But Trump\u2019s endorsement of his opponent makes that outcome less likely.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Democrats will very likely get the challenger they wanted to face in November\u2014and a blue Texas may not be as much of a pipe dream as people think.<\/p>\n

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