John Cornyn undone by past Trump misgivings, after decades as a loyal party man
Senator John Cornyn's long tenure in the Senate ended after losing a primary runoff to Ken Paxton, despite his efforts to align himself with Donald Trump. Cornyn's past criticisms of Trump and his reluctance to fully embrace certain Trump-backed initiatives contributed to his downfall. Trump's late endorsement of Paxton highlighted the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party and the importance of loyalty to the former president.
- ▪Cornyn highlighted his support for Trump during the campaign but lost to Ken Paxton in the primary runoff.
- ▪Trump's endorsement of Paxton was pivotal, as he criticized Cornyn for not being sufficiently loyal.
- ▪Cornyn's 24-year Senate career will conclude in January 2027.
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2026 ElectionJohn Cornyn undone by past Trump misgivings, after decades as a loyal party manCornyn touted his long record of supporting Trump’s agenda during the campaign. But it wasn’t enough, as the president never forgot his past criticisms.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleKen Paxton wins Republican Senate primary in Texas03:59Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 26, 2026, 9:32 PM EDTBy Sahil KapurAhead of his Republican primary runoff on Tuesday, Sen. John Cornyn highlighted a photo of himself standing next to President Donald Trump as his pinned post on X.
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