Ken Paxton Scores Massive Endorsement For Senate

Ken Paxton owned the room at CPAC.

The Texas attorney general emerged as the clear grassroots favorite for U.S. Senate, drawing cheers from conservative activists who packed events and treated him like the party’s nominee-in-waiting.

Behind closed doors, Paxton met with supporters, delivered the keynote at the Ronald Reagan dinner, and worked a private reception where attendees lined up for photos and handshakes. When his opponent, Sen. John Cornyn, came up, the reaction flipped. Loud boos filled the room.

Paxton’s strength is coming from the GOP base, the same voters who helped revive his political career after he was impeached and later acquitted on corruption charges by the Texas Legislature three years ago.

“I want you to know, there’s only one reason I got through all that, and it’s by the grace of God,” he said in his Friday night speech as applause rolled through the hall. “He absolutely delivered me, and he used to people of Texas to deliver me.”

Neither Paxton nor Cornyn secured enough support in the March 3 primary to avoid a May 26 runoff. Cornyn holds a major fundraising edge and backing from Washington Republicans, but Paxton is leaning on his grassroots momentum.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

The winner will face Democrat James Talarico in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races as Republicans try to maintain control of Congress.

RELATED: Top Pollster Reveals Frontrunner In Texas GOP Senate Primary

President Donald Trump had said he would endorse one of the candidates, but no decision has been announced. Paxton, however, has aligned himself closely with Trump’s agenda and messaging, which has resonated with the party’s right flank.

“The real benefit of Paxton is that he is more an ally of Trump,” said Luke Brown, a 21-year-old college student from Amarillo, Texas. “There’s got to be a change for newer conservatives.

He added, “I have respect for Cornyn. I just think it’s time for someone more conservative.”

Although Cornyn finished first in the primary, Paxton quickly moved to outmaneuver him by backing the SAVE Act, which would require stricter proof of citizenship to vote. The bill is a priority for Trump but has stalled in the Senate, where Republicans have resisted changing filibuster rules.

Paxton said he would consider stepping aside if the legislation passed and accused Cornyn of being a “coward.” About a week later, Cornyn reversed course and wrote in an op-ed that “I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary.”

Paxton made sure supporters knew it.

“Unfortunately, John Cornyn has never been focused on this issue until right now, when I called him out on it,” he told the crowd.

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