President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the upcoming GOP Senate runoff, giving Paxton a late boost against incumbent Sen.John Cornyn.The endorsement comes just a week before the election and follows months of Trump remaining neutral despite lobbying from both sides.Trump praised Paxton as a 'true MAGA Warrior' while noting that Cornyn, though a good man, had not supported him during challenging times.

Paxton’s candidacy is controversial due to multiple legal issues, including impeachment proceedings, a securities fraud investigation, ethics complaints, and a highly publicized divorce.

Cornyn and his allies worry that nominating Paxton could risk Republican control of the Senate seat and necessitate heavy campaign spending to defend it.Meanwhile, Democrats see an opportunity, with nominee James Talarico viewed as a strong contender.The timing of Trump’s endorsement surprised many, coming after months of speculation and lobbying by MAGA influencers.Paxton had previously aligned closely with Trump on key issues, including efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.His campaign also leveraged strategic moves, such as supporting changes to the filibuster to appeal to Trump and differentiate himself from Cornyn.This development intensifies the GOP primary race, with broader implications for the Senate balance and the general election in Texas.