Republican Senators Furious Over Trump's Surprise Endorsement of Ken Paxton in Texas Race

Republican senators are expressing shock and anger over President Trump's unexpected endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's Senate race, effectively snubbing four-term incumbent Senator John Cornyn. The surprise move has sparked widespread concern within the GOP that the party could lose a seat that has been considered safely Republican for decades.

News of Trump's decision to back Paxton over Cornyn was met with what sources described as shock, anger, and fear among Republican senators who had expected the president to support the incumbent. Cornyn, who has served four terms in the Senate, was widely viewed as having a strong relationship with Trump despite occasional policy disagreements during the former president's first administration.

Ken Paxton, who currently serves as Texas attorney general, appears well-positioned to defeat Cornyn in the Republican primary following Trump's endorsement. Paxton has maintained a high profile in conservative circles and has been a vocal supporter of Trump's policies and legal challenges, making him an attractive candidate for the president's endorsement.

The endorsement represents a significant shift in Trump's approach to Senate races, where he has typically supported incumbents who have backed his agenda. Cornyn's lengthy tenure and previous support for many Trump initiatives had led many observers to expect the president would endorse his reelection bid rather than supporting a primary challenger.

Republican strategists worry that a primary battle between Cornyn and Paxton could weaken whoever emerges as the nominee and potentially create an opening for Democrats in what has historically been a reliably red state. Texas has been trending more competitive in recent election cycles, and internal GOP polling suggests that a bruising primary fight could make the general election more challenging than anticipated.