Vice President JD Vance stepped up on Tuesday, May 19, to defend President Donald Trump’s surprise endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state’s Republican Senate runoff, calling it a clear choice based on loyalty when it mattered most.
Trump dropped his bombshell announcement on Truth Social earlier in the day, throwing his full support behind Paxton over four-term Sen. John Cornyn just a week before the May 26 runoff. Early voting is already underway across Texas.
Vance said Paxton earned the nod because “when it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president.” He contrasted that with Cornyn’s slower support for Trump during tough times.
“Unfortunately, when it really counted, Ken Paxton was there… and that’s why he ultimately earned the president’s endorsement,” Vance said.
He added that politicians need to serve the voters and the president, or risk falling out of step.
Trump Announces His Preferred Candidate
Trump’s lengthy endorsement message praised Paxton as a “true MAGA Warrior” and “America First Patriot” who has always been loyal.
He highlighted Paxton’s willingness to end the filibuster and push the SAVE America Act on border security.
Trump also listed priorities, including cutting taxes and regulations, boosting American energy production, securing the border, and protecting the Second Amendment.
He called Cornyn “a good man” he had worked with, but criticized him for being “very late in backing” him during the nomination fight and general election.
Trump pointed to his own record, strong economy, border security, and what he called the start of a “Golden Age” for America, and said Paxton would help keep that momentum going.
The move has shaken up a race that was already tight. Paxton and Cornyn advanced to the runoff after neither cleared 50% in the March 3 primary, with Cornyn holding a slight edge then.
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Trump’s backing is expected to fire up the most loyal MAGA voters in a low-turnout election. Betting odds shifted quickly toward Paxton after the announcement.
Cornyn has leaned on his long Senate experience, strong fundraising, and relationships with Texas business interests.
His campaign has highlighted his work on issues important to the state and his strong alignment with Trump over the past few years.
Paxton, meanwhile, has positioned himself as the fighter willing to take on tough battles, including lawsuits over election issues and border enforcement.
He has survived impeachment attempts in the Texas House and maintains strong support among the party’s grassroots conservatives.
Vance Rules Out Division Over Endorsement
Vance pushed back against any notion that the endorsement creates unnecessary division.
He said Trump wants senators who fight for ordinary people and can’t be influenced by lobbyists or special interests.
“We have seen a much better crop of talent come into Washington since Donald Trump has been the leader of the party,” he added.
The Texas contest carries weight beyond the state, as Republicans hold a narrow edge in the Senate; holding seats like this one is critical heading into future elections.
The winner will face Democrat James Talarico in November in what remains a strongly Republican state.
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Trump’s decision comes after months of speculation. He had teased an endorsement shortly after the primary but held off as the race tightened.
With early voting active, Trump could be aiming to maximize his influence with motivated primary voters.
What This Endorsement Means
The endorsement is a significant setback for Cornyn, who has longstanding ties in Washington and once employed a younger JD Vance as a law clerk.
JD Vance worked as a law clerk for Senator Cornyn on the Senate Judiciary Committee in the summer of 2011 while he was a student at Yale Law School.
Paxton’s team welcomed the news as validation of his record. The attorney general has cast himself as someone who delivers on Texas’s conservative priorities without compromise.
