Trump’s Voter Pressure on Cornyn
Supporters of President Trump are reportedly urging him not to extend his backing to Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) as he and Attorney General Ken Paxton approach the May runoff election.
According to Axios, Trump’s followers, often referred to as the Make America Great Again (MAGA) base, view this situation as a clash between the Republican establishment and their core supporters.
There are growing concerns among Republican leaders. If Paxton secures the nomination, there’s a real fear he could lose to state Representative James Talarico, a Democrat characterized by Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) as “very progressive.”
Axios notes that Trump’s supporters have criticized Cornyn on social media. Meanwhile, Cornyn’s backers warn that Paxton, who has faced impeachment proceedings over corruption accusations and issues related to an extramarital affair, could be a detrimental candidate in the general election, jeopardizing the Republican Senate majority.
In a recent ad, Paxton took aim at Cornyn, pointing out his past actions that, according to Paxton, undermined Trump.
Paxton stated, “John Cornyn has spent years trying to destroy President Trump and undermine the America First movement. Time and time again, when President Trump was under attack, John Cornyn joined the Swamp to try to destroy President Trump.”
He elaborated with examples of Cornyn’s actions, saying, “From supporting lawsuits against the president to persistent attempts to block presidential campaigns in both 2016 and 2024, Cornyn has worked tirelessly to undermine Donald Trump. While he’s been on an anti-Trump witch hunt, I’ve always stood by the president, fighting the stolen 2020 election, standing up to corrupt laws against President Trump, and supporting the 2024 campaign from day one.”
Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) has expressed his support for Paxton in the upcoming runoff, stating, “I’m proud to support Ken Paxton. If we want to change the way Congress works, we need to elect stronger leaders. Maintaining the status quo is a failure,” he mentioned on social media.
Trump has apparently conveyed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Cornyn that he wants the SAVE America Act, which mandates proof of citizenship to vote, addressed before he commits to supporting anyone in this race.
Additionally, Republican strategist Caroline Wren has voiced her opposition to Cornyn’s fifth-term bid, asserting, “To me, John Cornyn embodies everything wrong with the United States Senate.” Wren emphasized that “Donald Trump’s support is the strongest support in this country and should be earned,” adding that she doesn’t believe Cornyn has earned it.
