A super PAC backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for Senate is airing television ads in Palm Beach, Fla., where President Trump is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort, as his endorsement in a competitive Republican primary runoff hangs in the balance.
Lone Star Liberty PAC released a new one-minute television advertisement on Friday accusing Paxton's opponent, Rep. John Cornyn (R-Texas), of having 'betrayed' Trump. The ad cites Cornyn's votes to confirm Merrick Garland as U.S. attorney general and Lisa Monaco as deputy attorney general in 2021.
The advertisement concludes with a clip from earlier in the week of Cornyn telling an NBC News reporter to 'go away.' The spot comes as Trump has yet to endorse in the closely watched race, which advanced to a May 26 runoff after neither candidate secured enough votes in the March 3 GOP primary to win outright.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and some political analysts have criticized both Paxton and Cornyn as representing more of the same far-right politics that has defined Texas Republicans in recent years. The winner of the May 26 runoff will face Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) in November.
Democrats have sought to nationalize the race, arguing that Paxton's controversial tenure as attorney general — marked by an impeachment trial and multiple legal challenges — makes him a risky nominee who could cost Republicans the seat in the general election. Some progressive groups have noted that Cornyn's recent flip on the filibuster to support the SAVE America Act appears politically motivated.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives backing Paxton argue that Cornyn's votes to confirm Biden-era nominees Merrick Garland and Lisa Monaco demonstrated insufficient loyalty to Trump's agenda. The Lone Star Liberty PAC ad frames Cornyn as out of touch with the Republican base.
Top Republicans on Capitol Hill have been lobbying Trump behind the scenes to back Cornyn, expressing concerns that Paxton's controversial history as attorney general could make the seat costly to defend in November. Some party leaders worry that Paxton's legal troubles, including an impeachment trial that was eventually dismissed, could hurt Republican chances in a general election.
Trump has signaled he is nearing a decision after weeks of declining to endorse. In a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said he 'likes both candidates very much' and expected to make up his mind in the next week.
What the Numbers Show
The March 3 Texas Republican Senate primary produced no outright winner, with both Paxton and Cornyn advancing to the May 26 runoff. The winner will face James Talarico (D) in the November general election.
The SAVE America Act, a nationwide voter ID bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register in federal elections, has passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Republicans lack the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster. On Wednesday, Cornyn reversed his longstanding opposition to eliminating the filibuster, writing in a New York Post op-ed that he supports 'whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary' to pass the legislation.
The Bottom Line
The placement of Paxton-supporting ads in Palm Beach during Trump's Mar-a-Lago stay signals the high stakes surrounding Trump's pending endorsement decision. The Texas Senate race could prove consequential for Republican control of the chamber, and both campaigns are vying for Trump's seal of approval ahead of the May 26 runoff. Trump has indicated he will make a decision within the week, with his choice potentially shaping the trajectory of the race and the broader Republican message heading into November.