Tuesday was Election Day for several U.S. states holding key primaries. However, it is the news out of Texas that has the potential to truly shake up the upcoming November midterms. President Donald Trump stole the headlines when he announced that he was endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next week's GOP primary race in the Lone Star State. Here are the details of this endorsement and why it matters so much.

President Trump Offers Up Surprise Endorsement in Texas

Just as voters were heading to the polls in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Oregon on Tuesday, President Trump made a surprise endorsement when he posted on Truth Social that he was throwing his support behind Paxton. The president called Paxton a "true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate."

Paxton is engaged in a tough battle with incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn. The president's endorsement sent shockwaves through the Republican Party, as Cornyn has been a stalwart on Capitol Hill for years. By endorsing Paxton, Trump is sending a message to the party that he is still in charge.

The choice threatens to deepen the divide within the GOP. Several of the top voices in the party immediately voiced their concerns that Paxton does not carry the general electability that Cornyn enjoys within the electorate. Recent polling in the state has noted that Democratic nominee James Talarico has a better chance of turning that crucial state blue when running against Paxton rather than Cornyn.

Early voting has already started in the Texas primary runoff, scheduled for May 26. Whoever emerges victorious between Paxton and Cornyn will go up against Talarico in the November midterms. The Texas state representative is considered to be a rising star in the Democratic Party, having already raised an impressive amount of money. Grabbing a Senate seat in Texas would signify a massive accomplishment in the historically red state. Republicans in Washington, D.C. currently control the Senate by a decisive 53-47 seat margin.

In Paxton's endorsement post, Trump said that Cornyn is a "good man" but that he was not supportive of him during tough times. Trump went on to detail that Cornyn was "very late in backing me" when he ran in the 2024 GOP primary. Cornyn had previously said he was worried about Trump's viability for a second term after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.

GOP Reaction to Trump's Endorsement of Paxton

Trump's decision to endorse Paxton at the last minute is already causing more strife within the party. Paxton comes with a great deal of baggage that the Democrats may be able to use to their advantage during the fall campaign season. For example, Paxton was impeached on bribery charges by the Texas House in 2023. More recently, Paxton's wife accused him of infidelity. State Sen. Angela Paxton filed for divorce last year.

Cornyn said that he does not plan on leaving the race, despite not having Trump's support. He has held this Senate seat since being elected in November 2002. Cornyn released a statement saying that "It is now time for Texas Republican voters to decide if they want a strong nominee to help our GOP candidates down ballot and defeat Talarico in November, or a weak nominee who jeopardizes everything we care about. I trust the Republican voters of Texas."

President Trump's influence on the national election scene cannot be denied. Just last week, incumbent Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his primary race in Louisiana after the president told his base to vote him out. Also a physician, Cassidy had frequently clashed with Trump over national health care issues.

On Tuesday, Trump's power within the party helped to defeat incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky. Massie went down to a Trump ally and former Navy SEAL, Ed Gallrein.

Several GOP senators came out in support of Cornyn after Trump's endorsement of Paxton. Sen. Lindsey Graham noted that the battle to keep the seat red is now "more uphill, and it will cost more." Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Cornyn for being a "principled conservative" who is a "very effective senator for the state of Texas."

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats expressed optimism that Trump's endorsement improves their chances of winning big in Texas in November. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the media on Tuesday that "Texas is a huge mess for Republicans, and I believe that we're in much better shape taking back Texas than we were a few days ago."

A spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee echoed this sentiment, noting that the GOP was divided in Texas while Talarico is “building the campaign to win, and Texans will send him to the U.S. Senate in November.” A poll in mid-April conducted by Texas Public Opinion Research found that Talarico was running ahead of both Cornyn and Paxton; however, he enjoyed a larger lead over Paxton.

Talarico was notably nonchalant about the news of Trump's endorsement. The representative said that it does not matter who wins the runoff, suggesting that he is ready to face anyone.

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