Sen. John Cornyn looks to overcome Paxton primary challenge by embracing Trump

But gladhanding Trump is something Cornyn has vacillated on. He started out as a Trump skeptic in 2016, calling him an “albatross around the down-ballot races” before eventually backing him. When Trump first tried to emerge from political exile in hopes of being re-elected in 2024, Cornyn was wary, saying Trump’s “time has passed him by.” He again changed his tune once Trump won the New Hampshire primary, going public with an endorsement.

Despite his past skepticism, Cornyn seems to recognize just how much sway Trump has over this election, with his coveted endorsement carrying the potential to bolster Cornyn’s conservative cred — or compound his uphill climb if Trump backs Paxton.

Matt Mackowiak, a senior adviser on Cornyn’s campaign, said Cornyn “has been a strong supporter of President Trump, and that’s really not up for debate.” He highlighted the senator’s time serving as the GOP’s Senate whip, during which he wrangled his colleagues’ votes to push through landmark legislative achievements during Trump’s first term, including tax cuts and confirmation of Supreme Court nominees.

Cornyn has been in touch with the president directly, Mackowiak said, to pitch “our plan to win the primary and the enormous cost and political risk if Paxton is the nominee.”

Paxton’s team has also been privately lobbying Trump’s circle for the president’s backing, according to a senior staffer with the Paxton campaign who was granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Cornyn’s efforts to align himself with Trump have yet to strengthen his record in the eyes of primary voters as he trails Paxton in a two-way hypothetical primary by more than 15 points in multiple polls.

Brendan Steinhauser, a GOP strategist who ran Cornyn’s successful 2014 reelection, said he views the senator’s recent positions as an authentic reflection of his conservative ideology. But Steinhauser added that he’s “not going to pretend like the primary has nothing to do with all this,” noting that the tough race has forced Cornyn to message a little differently by “highlighting his conservative record.”

Mackowiak also insists that Cornyn’s recent moves do not mark a change in his views.

”There’s a false perception about Cornyn’s actual record, and it’s part of our job to make sure that people understand what it actually is,” he said.

Sam Cooper, a strategist for the Paxton-aligned Lone Star Liberty PAC, thinks voters will see through this strategy.

“I don’t think it’s lost on anybody that he’s picked up a lot more interest in these issues in an election year,” he said.

Texas’ attorney general has his own baggage to contend with. He was indicted in 2015 on security fraud charges before agreeing to perform community service and pay restitution in exchange for prosecutors dropping the case. The GOP-controlled Texas House also impeached Paxton in 2023, before the state Senate ultimately voted to acquit him. The Associated Press also reported that the DOJ decided not to prosecute Paxton in the waning weeks of Biden’s term, effectively closing a federal corruption investigation.

Nick Maddux, a Paxton adviser, painted these accusations much as Trump did in the 2024 election: as notches in the attorney general’s warrior-like record.

“Everyone’s come after him, and he literally won’t stop fighting — and he’s won every battle,” Maddux said.

Cooper drew explicit parallels between Paxton and Trump’s alleged wrongdoing, saying, “just like President Trump, Attorney General Paxton has received his fair share of lawfare, and each and every time he’s stood up and won.”

Mackowiak said Paxton’s legal history is certain to play into Cornyn’s campaign messaging, as they are “not sure” whether the electorate has come to grips with the attorney general’s past actions. He also sent a shot across the bow at the Paxton camp, warning that there is more to the attorney general’s record than what “has been out there for voters to see, hear and read.”

In this political minefield, many elected Republicans have remained on the sidelines, having found themselves in a lose-lose situation where they would incur the wrath of fellow Republicans no matter who they support.

Sen. Ted Cruz has told Dallas’ ABC affiliate that he will not endorse in the primary.

Rep. Michael McCaul, who served under Cornyn when he was the state’s attorney general over two decades ago, declined to say which candidate he was backing. But he criticized the race itself, calling it “unfortunate.” The Austin Republican’s biggest gripe was with the millions of dollars that are certain to pour into the race for both candidates, rather than in states “where we could pick up seats.”

“We’ve got a long way to go,” said U.S. Rep. Keith Self of McKinney, who also declined to endorse a candidate. “Grab your popcorn, and let’s see what happens.”