From Cornyn to Paxton: How Trump helped accelerate the Texas GOP's transformation

From Cornyn to Paxton: How Trump helped accelerate the Texas GOP’s transformation
The power struggle between old-school Bush Republicans and hardline conservatives predates President Donald Trump. But he has used his clout to help tip the scales.

by Eleanor Klibanoff
May 28, 2026, 5:56 p.m. Central


(Texas Tribune) A senior senator who voted with President Donald Trump’s agenda 99% of the time. One of Texas’ most conservative lawmakers. A three-term state representative endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott.

All lost their runoff elections Tuesday night to Trump-endorsed opponents, a decisive sweep that serves as a fresh reminder that the Texas GOP remains in complete lockstep with the president.

Once led by chamber of commerce conservatives who preached small government and big business, the Texas Republican Party has been conquered over the last 15 years by a hard-charging, uncompromisingly conservative faction, operating on the vanguard of the nation’s culture wars and driven by a sense of perpetual insurgency.

Trump’s endorsements up and down the ballot have only served to accelerate the GOP’s transformation from the party of longtime Sen. John Cornyn to the home base of Attorney General Ken Paxton and his supporters. ................(more)

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/28/texas-donald-trump-endorsement-ken-paxton-john-cornyn-gop-remaking/