President Donald Trump took the unusual step of recording a personal video message Friday, urging Texas voters to back Attorney General Ken Paxton in what’s become a surprisingly competitive Senate race in the traditionally red state.
“He is unbelievable. He is a loyal, hardworking character. Ken’s one of the best state attorney generals in the entire country. He has been for the last many years and frankly he’s gonna go down as one of the best ever,” Trump said in the video endorsement.
The president’s intervention comes as polling shows Democratic nominee James Talarico holding an average 2.9% lead over Paxton, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. That a Democrat could be competitive in Texas, of all places, signals just how tight this race has become.
“Ken Paxton has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next U.S. Senator from Texas,” Trump declared.
Paxton earned his spot on the ballot after defeating longtime Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary earlier this year. That victory came after Paxton made a bold offer: he’d drop out of the contest if Cornyn could secure passage of a voter ID bill. Cornyn apparently couldn’t deliver, and Paxton stayed in the fight.
The primary win was a testament to Paxton’s standing among the Republican base. As Texas Attorney General, he’s built a reputation as one of the most aggressive conservative legal voices in the country, frequently taking on the federal government and pushing back against policies that conflict with Texas values.
Trump’s willingness to personally wade into the contest suggests the White House views this race as a must-win. The president’s endorsement carries significant weight with Republican voters, particularly in a state where he remains enormously popular.
