Thune Breaks With Trump, Backs Cornyn After Paxton Endorsement – Full Article

impeachment battle in the Texas legislature from which he was ultimately acquitted by the state Senate.

Trump allies have framed the race as a test of loyalty to the president and the broader America First movement, while Cornyn supporters argue the longtime senator offers stability, fundraising strength, and legislative experience critical for maintaining Republican control of the Senate.

Cornyn, who has served in the Senate since 2002 and previously chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has longstanding ties to GOP leadership and donor networks in Washington. But critics on the right have increasingly portrayed him as part of the party establishment out of step with the Republican base.

Paxton has sought to capitalize on that frustration, presenting himself as a fighter aligned