President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed significant private reservations regarding his endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the 2026 midterm elections, according to a Wall Street Journal report. This introspection follows a notable defeat for Republicans in Texas, where Paxton, despite President Trump's backing, lost the general election for a U.S. Senate seat to Democrat James Talarico. The outcome marked a historic shift, delivering a Senate victory to Democrats in Texas for the first time in decades and adding to the Republican Party's national losses.
"I had no choice. Ken Paxton, he’s a good guy. And I just wasn’t a fan of Cornyn." President Donald Trump, Fox News Interview
The reported doubts from President Trump reveal a deeper, behind-the-scenes disagreement within the Republican Party that preceded the midterm elections. Senior party officials, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, had reportedly cautioned President Trump against endorsing Paxton. Thune, a prominent voice within the party, repeatedly encouraged President Trump to support Senator John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent with extensive experience in Texas politics. Thune argued that backing Paxton could transform a traditionally secure Republican Senate seat into a highly competitive and expensive general election contest.
The internal debate intensified following the state's Republican primary in March. Neither Paxton nor Cornyn secured an outright majority, necessitating a runoff election. The day after the primary, President Trump reportedly contacted Thune to discuss his endorsement options. Representative Wesley Hunt, who finished third in the primary, also participated in the conversation, offering his assessment that Cornyn would struggle in the general election. However, Thune presented a starkly different view, warning President Trump that securing a victory for Paxton in November could demand a substantial financial investment, potentially between $200 million and $300 million. Such a commitment, Thune contended, could divert crucial Republican resources from other competitive Senate races across the country.
Discussions continued for several weeks, with Thune reportedly believing at various points that he had persuaded President Trump to maintain neutrality rather than intervene in the primary. The Wall Street Journal even reported that a draft endorsement statement supporting Cornyn had been prepared but ultimately never released.
Ultimately, President Trump chose a different path. In May, he publicly endorsed Paxton, a decision reportedly influenced by his growing frustration with Senate Republicans over their perceived failure to advance his preferred voting legislation. This endorsement was a significant political boost for Paxton and his supporters, many of whom had been critical of Cornyn's relationship with President Trump and his stance on certain Republican policy priorities. With President Trump's backing, Paxton decisively defeated Cornyn in the runoff, capturing nearly 64% of the vote.
However, the general election presented a distinct set of challenges. Paxton entered the contest facing ongoing questions about his personal conduct and previous impeachment proceedings, controversies that Republican officials had privately worried could become significant liabilities in a broader election. These concerns gained particular weight as Democrats mounted an aggressive campaign to capture the Texas Senate seat. The eventual victory of James Talarico on Tuesday underscored these pre-existing anxieties.
The outcome has renewed scrutiny of President Trump's endorsement decisions and highlighted the internal divisions that shaped Republican candidate selection in the 2026 midterms. While the Wall Street Journal account describes President Trump's private doubts, his public stance remained one of defense for his choice. During an Election Day interview with Fox News, President Trump stated, "I had no choice. Ken Paxton, he’s a good guy. And I just wasn’t a fan of Cornyn." He also alluded to Cornyn's perceived disloyalty, suggesting that their political differences made it impossible for him to support the longtime senator.
These public remarks stand in contrast to the private concerns reportedly voiced to his advisers. The Wall Street Journal report does not indicate that President Trump has publicly acknowledged regretting the endorsement. Nevertheless, the reported conversations offer a revealing glimpse into the strategic disagreements that existed within Republican leadership well before voters cast their ballots. Thune and other party officials had warned that selecting Paxton could jeopardize a Senate seat that Republicans had controlled for decades. President Trump ultimately backed the candidate he believed resonated more strongly with the party's grassroots base. While this decision helped Paxton secure the Republican nomination, it did not translate into a general election victory.
With Democrats now controlling both chambers of Congress, Republicans are grappling with difficult questions about the decisions that shaped their midterm campaigns. President Trump’s reported second thoughts about the Paxton endorsement have become a part of a broader discussion about whether Republican leaders overlooked warnings that might have altered the outcome in Texas and, by extension, the national political landscape.
