President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Oct. 16, 2026, blaming U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Republican strategist Karl Rove for efforts to undermine Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race against Democrat James Talarico. Trump urged voters who supported Cornyn in the primary to switch support to Paxton.
Where
Statewide
When
Oct. 16, 2026
Sources
Reported by 7 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
Donald TrumpU.S. President
Ken PaxtonTexas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate
John CornynU.S. Senator from Texas
Karl RoveRepublican political strategist
James TalaricoTexas State Representative and Democratic Senate candidate
The facts
Paxton defeated Cornyn in a Republican primary runoff in May after receiving Trump's endorsement.23Stated by 2 sources
Cornyn has not appeared with or campaigned for Paxton since the primary.3
A Fox News poll from Oct. 2 shows about 20% of voters who supported Cornyn in primary now support Talarico.3
Early voting in Texas begins Oct. 19.23Stated by 2 sources
Recent polling shows Talarico with a slight lead over Paxton in the U.S. Senate race.3
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Donald Trump Cornyn and Rove are doing everything possible to make it hard for Paxton to win.23
Donald Trump If Paxton loses, it will be because of Cornyn and Rove.123
John Cornyn Paxton is a poor campaigner and lazy.23
Karl Rove The Senate race would be over if Cornyn had defeated Paxton in the primary.2
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Trump calls out Cornyn, ‘Super RINO’ Rove for working against Ken Paxton in Texas
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made a campaign stop in Corpus Christi and encouraged voters to vote early. He criticized a Bernie Sanders endorsement of his Democratic challenger and outlined priorities including property tax reduction, homestead exemptions for those under 65, and teacher pay increases.
Dan Patrick, Texas Lt. Gov., candidate for reelection; Vikki Goodwin, Democratic challenger for Texas Lt. Gov.; Greg Abbott, Texas Gov., also seeking reelection and 1 more
More than 72,000 Bexar County residents voted in person by midafternoon on the second day of early voting. County officials addressed ballot style errors, long lines, and a printing problem affecting voter registration cards.
Michele Carew, Bexar County Elections Office administrator
Republican Carlos De La Cruz and Democrat Johnny Garcia are competing for the newly redrawn Texas 35th Congressional District. The district was redrawn in 2025 to flip from Democratic to Republican, moving from Austin to South Texas near San Antonio.
Carlos De La Cruz, Republican candidate for Texas 35th Congressional District; Johnny Garcia, Democratic candidate for Texas 35th Congressional District; Donald Trump, Endorsed De La Cruz in February and 7 more
President Donald Trump will campaign in Lubbock on October 27 for Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
Donald Trump, U.S. President campaigning; Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General and Republican U.S. Senate candidate; James Talarico, Texas state Representative and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and 1 more
President Donald Trump is conducting a 32-day midterm campaign tour visiting multiple states. He plans to announce new economic initiatives tailored to each state's local economy and highlight past accomplishments including tax cuts, border security measures, and deregulatory efforts.
Donald Trump, President; James Talarico, Democrat candidate mentioned in campaign context
Republican Mark Keough is running for a third term as Montgomery County judge against Democratic challenger James Graf in the Nov. 3 general election. Keough, who took office in 2019, said he wants to continue building on his accomplishments. Graf pledged to serve just one term and focus on long-term financial planning.
$$480 million for road bond
Mark Keough, Republican candidate for Montgomery County judge, incumbent serving third term; James Graf, Democratic challenger for Montgomery County judge
Country band The Chicks invited Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico on stage during their concert at San Antonio's Majestic Theater on Saturday, October 19, 2026. Talarico praised the band as an example of "Texas excellence."
The Chicks, Country band performing concert; James Talarico, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; Natalie Maines, Frontwoman of The Chicks and 1 more
Pamphlets falsely marketed as coming from the Texas Transgender Student Union were mailed to families across Texas during early voting. An LLC with that name was formed in Wyoming in early September, with a Houston post office box listed. The real Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) denied involvement and said the mailers do not represent the organization.
Texas Transgender Student Union, LLC formed in Wyoming; company behind the false mailers; Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), Advocacy group impersonated by the mailers; denied involvement