Trump’s Endorsement in Texas Senate Race Causes Concerns Among Republicans

Moments after President Donald Trump announced his endorsement in the Texas Senate race, the atmosphere among Senate Republicans changed noticeably. Many were already on their way to their weekly meeting, preparing to discuss the stalled immigration funding package and outline plans for a challenging week in the Senate. However, Trump’s decision to endorse Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over long-serving Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, caught many lawmakers off guard. Some fear this choice might endanger a seat that has remained Republican for many years.

TRUMP CHOOSES PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RUNOFF AGAINST CORNYN

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, expressed her strong disappointment with the move. “I think that this puts that seat in jeopardy,” Murkowski stated based on the figures she had seen. “How does that help strengthen the president’s hand when we lose a state like Texas?”

The winner of the runoff will face Texas state Rep. James Talarico. Talarico recently defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, and is gaining support from prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama.

TALENTED TALARICO DEFEATS CROCKETT IN TEXAS SENATE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Historically, Paxton has a favorable position if he wins. Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988. Still, many Republicans viewed Cornyn as the safer choice. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., who led the Senate GOP’s campaign to secure the majority in 2024, expressed continued support for Cornyn. “I do believe we are going to pull Texas, but I think John Cornyn was the safest bet,” Daines remarked.

Cornyn has been critical of Paxton for scandals that followed him, including his impeachment and alleged affair. He warned that Paxton could be a burden for the GOP if he wins. “It is now time for Texas Republican voters to decide if they want a strong nominee to help our GOP candidates down-ballot and defeat Talarico in November, or a weak nominee who jeopardizes everything we care about. I trust the Republican voters of Texas,” Cornyn said.

Paxton campaign strategist Nick Maddux countered by defending Paxton’s record as a proven winner in three statewide elections. “This is the only talking point the Cornyn campaign has because, after 42 years of accomplishing nothing, Cornyn has no record to run on,” Maddux claimed. “The bottom line is that Ken Paxton will be the Republican nominee for this fall, and we are ready to unite the party.”

DEMOCRATS SEE OPPORTUNITY IN TEXAS SENATE RACE AMID GOP DISAGREEMENTS

As Election Day arrived, Cornyn and Paxton prepared to face off one final time in this cycle. Many of Cornyn’s colleagues remained loyal, unwilling to endorse Paxton, who they believed could put the seat at risk. “I thought Ken Paxton was a felon,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told reporters.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who had tried to persuade Trump to support Cornyn, said the endorsement decision was ultimately Trump’s. “Senator Cornyn is a principled conservative,” Thune emphasized. “He is a very effective senator for the state of Texas. None of us control what the president does. He made his decision about that. That doesn’t change the way I feel, and I am certainly supportive of and will continue to be supportive of Senator Cornyn in his re-election.”

Alex Miller writes for Fox News Digital, focusing on the U.S. Senate.