Cornyn Flips on Filibuster as Trump Weighs Texas Endorsement
Cornyn backed changes to pass the SAVE America Act as Trump weighs an endorsement in the May 26 Texas Senate runoff.
ABC NewsShould Trump endorse Cornyn? Some Texas Republicans say it would be a MAGA 'mistake'
NBC NewsJohn Cornyn's filibuster flip: From the Politics Desk
Western JournalRepublican Sen. John Cornyn Calls on GOP to Change Filibuster and Pass SAVE Act as He Prepares for Primary Runoff Against Ken Paxton
CNNTrump leaned toward endorsing Cornyn. Then the leaks started — and Paxton made a ‘genius move’ | CNN Politics
Overview
Sen. John Cornyn wrote in a New York Post op-ed that he now supports "whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary" to pass the SAVE America Act as President Donald Trump weighs endorsing a candidate in the May 26 runoff.
Ken Paxton announced on Friday that he would consider dropping out if the Senate passed the SAVE America Act and urged lifting the filibuster, a move sources said has tied Trump’s potential endorsement to the bill's passage.
State Republicans including Tom Oliverson and Steve Toth said an endorsement of Cornyn would anger Trump’s ardent supporters and called it a MAGA 'mistake.'
Texas Public Opinion Research reported on March 9 that Paxton led Cornyn 49 percent to 41 percent, and roughly $100 million has been spent in the primary campaign, raising stakes for Senate GOP leaders.
The deadline to withdraw from the May 26 runoff is March 18 at 5 p.m. CT.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the race as an intra-party clash that pits establishment Cornyn against populist Paxton, emphasizing risk to Trump’s standing. Editorial choices—labels like “favorite of the Washington establishment” and “conservative crusader,” repeated anti-Cornyn quotes, and phrases such as “jockeying for the upper hand” foreground conflict and grassroots resentment.
FAQ
The SAVE America Act requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, for voter registration, and photo ID for voting in federal elections.
Cornyn reversed his longtime support for the filibuster to back necessary Senate rule changes to pass the SAVE America Act, amid his primary battle with Ken Paxton and efforts to secure Donald Trump's endorsement.
Ken Paxton announced he would consider dropping out of the May 26 Texas Senate runoff if the Senate passes the SAVE America Act by lifting the filibuster.
The SAVE America Act has passed the U.S. House and Republicans plan a Senate debate, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune opposes filibuster changes.
Trump is weighing endorsement in the May 26 Texas Senate runoff between Cornyn and Paxton, with Paxton's potential exit and Cornyn's filibuster shift tied to passing Trump's priority SAVE America Act.
