A new Quantus poll shows Attorney General Ken Paxton prevailing over Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), emphasizing that an endorsement from President Donald Trump could be a decisive factor in the race.
On May 26, 2026, Republican voters will decide whether they want either Attorney General Paxton or Senator Cornyn to face state Rep. James Talarico (D-TX) in the November election for the Texas U.S. Senate seat.
Both Attorney General Paxton and Senator Cornyn's campaigns have been marred by controversy, and neither has received an endorsement from President Trump. At a time when an endorsement from the president is viewed as either favorable or anathema, a new Quantus poll suggests that such backing could be a deciding factor for Republican voters.
The poll shows that Attorney General Paxton has 48.8% support compared to Senator Cornyn’s 41.3%. However, support shifts depending on which candidate the president endorses.
If President Trump were to endorse Senator Cornyn, 18.3% of voters said they would be more likely to support him, while 70% said it would make no difference.
If President Trump were to endorse Attorney General Paxton, 25.3% of voters said they would be more likely to support him, while 63% said it would make no difference.
Overall, 78.7% of voters said their decision was final, while 21.3% said their vote could change heading into the runoff election.
The poll was conducted between March 21 and March 23. The results come after an Impact Research poll showed Libertarian Ted Brown gaining support for his own senatorial bid.
Earlier this month, Attorney General Paxton suggested that he would drop out of the race if Republican leadership agreed to eliminate the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, calling it "the most important bill the U.S. Senate could ever pass."
President Trump has consistently avoided confirming whom he is backing in the race, recently saying that he likes both candidates "very much." Hinting that an endorsement could hinge on the future of the SAVE America Act, the president suggested that he could make an announcement soon.
