Ken Paxton's Primary Victory Shows How Trump's Grudges Undermine His Party's Interests
Ken Paxton's recent primary victory in Texas highlights the influence of Donald Trump's endorsements on Republican candidates. Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn, largely attributed to Trump's last-minute support. This shift raises concerns about the future of the Republican Party, as it may struggle to unify behind a candidate with a controversial background in the upcoming general election.
- ▪Ken Paxton won 64 percent of the vote in the second round of the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Texas.
- ▪Donald Trump's endorsement of Paxton was seen as a significant factor in his victory over incumbent John Cornyn.
- ▪Cornyn had previously never lost an election since first being elected to the Senate in 2002.
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Politics Ken Paxton's Primary Victory Shows How Trump's Grudges Undermine His Party's Interests The president's last-minute endorsement of Paxton was driven by his petty grievances against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, who was clearly the safer bet to retain the seat. Jacob Sullum | 5.27.2026 4:20 PM Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google Media Contact & Reprint Requests <img src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/c800x450-w800-q80/uploads/2026/05/Ken-Paxton-5-27-26-Newscom-800x450.jpg" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto" width="1200" height="675" title="Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton" alt="Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton | Laura Brett/Sipa USA/Newscom" /> Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (Laura…
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