MORNING GLORY: Texas might be the key to saving Trump’s second term agenda

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On May 26, 2026, the second half of PresidentDonald Trump’s second term may be on the ballot.

Texas Senator John Cornyn held off Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to lead in the first round of the 2026 race for the Texas Senate seat, but since Congressman Wesley Hunt drew more than 13% of the primary vote,a run-off between Cornyn and Paxtonwill be held on May 26.

Senator Cornyn is a stalwart conservative, a former Texas StateSupreme Courtjustice and a strong supporter of President Donald Trump.Attorney General Paxton is a fixture of the often black-and-blue brawling of theLone Star State’s internal combinations.

How black-and-blue?

U.S.Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) walks through the halls of the U.S.Capitol on February 12, 2026, in Washington, D.C.(Michael M.Santiago/Getty Images)

Paxton was impeached by the overwhelmingly GOP-dominated state legislature on 16 counts of alleged wrongdoing in 2023.Paxton survived his trial in the Texas State Senate and was acquitted, but should he somehow catch and pass Cornyn in the run-off, the safe GOP seat in deep-red Texas suddenly becomes very winnable for the Democrats whohave nominated boy-band-look alikeJames Talarico.Cornyn will roll over the young man.Paxton is likely to get rolled by him.

President Trump could come in on Cornyn’s side before May 26 and put an end to the sideshow that threatens to put the GOP’s Senate majority at risk if Paxton wins.

TheSenate GOPenjoys a 53-47 advantage right now.While it is hard to see a path for Democrats to get to 51, it’s not impossible.It becomes much more likely, in fact, if Paxton wins the run-off and loses the general.Much.More.Likely.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tx., in the Senate subway.

Sen.John Cornyn, R-Tx., wants to remove the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ tax-exempt status in the wake of Texas and Florida designating the group as a terrorist organization.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

What would a Democratic Senate majority mean for President Trump?Start with long, repeatingSenate trialson bogus articles of impeachment which will roll over from a House Democratic majority on a conveyor belt.Count on a Democratic Senate majority to go to any lengths to recapture the White House in 2028 while crippling the ability of 45-47 to get much done in his last two years.

The courts would also be at risk.President Trump’s nominees for the federal bench, especially the Supreme Court, should any occur, would not get a hearing as Democrats chant in unison the name of Merrick Garland.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tx., at a Senate hearing

Sen.John Cornyn, R-Tx., and Texas Attorney General are engaged in a brutal primary battle, and will be in the same room for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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The good news is that Texas Republicans are a smart lot.They have rejected every attempt by national media over two decades to get them to desert the GOP to support the latest progressive poster child.Texas voters play politics like they play football — to win.Trading a veteran and accomplished legislator for (at best) the lowest ranked senator in an institution that runs on seniority would be foolish indeed.Switching Cronyn out for Paxton is inviting Talarico to “represent” Texas for six long years.

Texans shouldn’t bench a long-time winner for an injured and injury-prone JV player.President Trump can assure that they won’t.The president played it smart by letting Texas Republicans pick their leader in the clubhouse.Now is the time for President Trump to seal his party’s majority in the Senate in 2027 and 2028 with a ringing endorsement of Senator John Cornyn.

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