President Donald Trump took a victory lap Wednesday morning after Ken Paxton won the Texas Senate primary runoff.
Trump endorsed Paxton last week over four-term Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Trump, for a long time, held off on endorsing either Republican in the race, but sought to oust the incumbent he considered inconsistently loyal.
Paxton credited the president for boosting his campaign in the high-profile race.
“When everyone in Washington told him to abandon me and abandon the people of Texas, he didn’t listen,” Paxton told supporters. “President Trump is the leader of our party, and his endorsement is the most powerful force in politics.”
Cornyn’s defeat came after a series of recent primaries in which Trump successfully supported challengers to GOP lawmakers in Louisiana, Kentucky, and Indiana who had fallen out of his favor—underscoring his continued sway with GOP primary voters.
Paxton, now the Republican nominee, will face off against state Rep. James Talarico in the November election.
Trump vowed to hit the campaign trail to continue boosting his campaign.
Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives in May 2023 on allegations including abuse of office, bribery, and obstruction related to favors allegedly provided to a political donor.
He was later acquitted by the Texas Senate and remained in office as Texas attorney general.
Cornyn argued during the campaign that Paxton's past scandals and legal troubles could put the seat in jeopardy, but vowed Tuesday night to back him in November, saying he will always support the Republican candidate on the ticket.
Meanwhile, Democrats believe Talarico has a shot at defeating Paxton to win the statewide race in Texas and potentially help the party regain control of the Senate.