Trump allies warn president he has to endorse Cornyn as GOP fears Democrat James Talarico’s popularity in Texas: Report

President Donald Trump has so far refrained from backing either incumbent Republican senator or MAGA challenger but may now have his hand forced following win for Democratic rising star NewsWorldAmericasUS politicsWorried allies warn Trump he has to endorse Cornyn as Democrat James Talarico sweeps to victory in primary: ReportPresident Donald Trump has so far refrained from backing either incumbent Republican senator or MAGA challenger but may now have his hand forced following win for Democratic rising starJoe Sommerlad Wednesday 04 March 2026 11:58 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverRelated: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton claims gun control laws 'wouldn't have stopped' deadly Uvalde school shootingYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreTexas Democrat James Talarico’s projected victory over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in Tuesday’s primary should give President Donald Trump cause to finally back incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, Republicans have said.The president has so far held off from backing either Cornyn or his MAGA challenger, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, but the former’s strong performance in Tuesday’s GOP primary forced a runoff that will take place on May 26. With Talarico seemingly coming out on top against Crockett – who is contesting the result in court amid reported chaos at the polls in Dallas County, which she blamed on Republican meddling – a GOP operative has told Politico it is time for conservatives to “take him seriously.” Talarico is a “big reason for Trump to get in for Cornyn and end this thing,” said the publication’s source, described as a close Trump administration ally.open image in galleryDemocratic Texas Senate candidate, James Talarico, speaks during his primary election night party in Austin (Reuters)Talarico’s win “reaffirms the need to have Cornyn as the nominee,” they said. “Can’t risk this to Paxton.”“Look, it will probably cost some money,” the same person said of the prospect of the president backing Cornyn in the runoff. “It’s just money, we have a lot of it.”Another source told the outlet it would be “very surprising” for Trump to now endorse Paxton, a more natural ally, after he failed to prove he could beat the incumbent, raising questions about his chances of seeing off the Democratic rising star come November’s midterms.Establishment Republicans fear that the scandal-marred Paxton could repel voters and play into the hands of the clean-cut Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and former teacher.“I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we’ve worked so hard to build over these many years,” Cornyn said in Austin on Tuesday evening. “There is simply too much at stake.”open image in galleryTexas Republican Sen. John Cornyn speaks to the media in Austin after last night’s result (AP)Paxton was equally defiant, telling his supporters in Dallas: “John Cornyn spent around $100 million trying to buy this seat. We spent around $5 million… We prove something they’ll never understand in Washington: Texas is not for sale.”Cornyn has been unpopular with the Trumpian wing of his party since backing gun control legislation following the horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in 2022 and after dismissing Trump’s prospects in a 2023 interview by suggesting “time has passed him by.”The MAGA-approved Paxton, however, was impeached for corruption in 2023 by the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives, only to be acquitted in the Senate, and has also separated from his wife, State Senator Angela Paxton, who is seeking a divorce “on Biblical grounds” over alleged infidelity.Should voters back Talarico in November, it would count as a major upset and mark the first time Democrats have won a statewide race in Texas since 1998 – and go a long way towards their party’s goal of flipping the Senate.They need to win four seats nationally to achieve that end, overturning the slim 53-47 Republican majority that currently holds sway.open image in galleryTexas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton speakers to supporters at his watch party in Dallas last night (Getty)Talarico boosted his national profile with a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan