Crane Endorses Paxton in Texas Senate Runoff

Representative Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) has thrown his support behind Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the highly anticipated Republican Senate runoff in Texas. This endorsement comes as the race against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) really starts to ramp up ahead of the election scheduled for May.

Crane shared his endorsement on X, where he highlighted Paxton’s latest campaign ad, which takes aim at Cornyn’s previous criticisms of former President Donald Trump. “Proud to support @KenPaxtonTX,” Crane tweeted, emphasizing the need for stronger leadership in Congress. He added, “Maintaining the status quo is a failure.”

In response to Crane’s endorsement, Paxton expressed his appreciation on his own social media post, calling Crane “one of the best players ever” and a “warrior for Washington.” Paxton noted he looks forward to collaborating with Crane to make meaningful changes.

The upcoming runoff election is set for May 26, as neither candidate secured a majority in the recent Republican primary. With around 65.8% of the votes tallied, Cornyn led with 42.5%, closely followed by Paxton at 40.8%. Congressman Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), who is also a supporter of Crane, trailed in third place with about 13% and plans to leave office at the end of his current term.

This endorsement is part of Paxton’s strategy, which focuses on contrasting his platform with Cornyn’s, as illustrated in a new digital ad. Paxton accused Cornyn of undermining Trump and the America First movement over the years, stating, “When President Trump was under attack, John Cornyn repeatedly joined the Swamp to try to destroy him.”

The campaign ad features a montage of clips of Cornyn discussing Trump and related investigations. In it, Cornyn states, “I think the era of President Trump is over,” and mentions how Trump’s actions after the January 6 protests were “reckless.” Other clips show Cornyn addressing inquiries into Trump’s campaign ties to Russia, including statements about the need to investigate Russian involvement in the election. In contrast, Paxton reiterated his commitment to fight against the 2020 election’s outcome and support Trump’s 2024 campaign.

This primary race has garnered significant attention, especially since Trump has not publicly endorsed a candidate yet. While he remains neutral, a source close to the White House mentioned that he is urging lawmakers to support the Protection of American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE). Trump has indicated that he may eventually support one candidate while asking the other to withdraw.

Paxton has been gaining momentum, thanks in part to several endorsements, including early backing from Turning Point Action, a conservative youth organization. He expressed gratitude for their support, saying, “I’m proud to work with Turning Point Action to continue the fight to save our country and protect our freedoms.”

He’s also received backing from conservative figures in Texas, such as State Rep. Steve Toth, who recently won a primary against Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Toth emphasized Paxton’s commitment to conservative values and constitutional rights during his time as attorney general, noting that Paxton has often been a key legal figure for Texas against the Biden administration’s policies.

Toth highlighted Paxton’s efforts on issues like border security and blocking COVID-19 mandates, stating that Paxton truly embodies the values he advocates. “Ken Paxton is one of the few who will follow through,” he concluded, pointing out how certain politicians fall short on their promises.