DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (AP) — Republican Ken Paxton is riding high as the Texas attorney general heads into the final days of the U.S. Senate primary runoff against incumbent John Cornyn, now with the weight of President Donald Trump's backing.
"I don't know if y'all noticed this, but Donald Trump endorsed me," Paxton told a small rally in a town outside Austin, inciting whoops and applause from the crowd.
Tuesday's election has drawn national attention and gobs of money. It also has become the latest campaign in which Trump is encouraging voters to oust a politician who has displeased him and elect a challenger more aligned with the president. That effort has been largely successful for Trump. Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky lost in the GOP primary to Ed Gallrein, Trump's handpicked candidate. Trump also has succeeded in defeating incumbents in Louisiana and Indiana.
READ MORE: Trump endorses Paxton in Texas Republican primary, boosting effort to oust Sen. Cornyn
Paxton has been turning his focus to the Democratic nominee, state Rep. James Talarico. Paxton opened his event Thursday with attacks on Talarico, a sign of his confidence heading into the runoff.
