Rep. Don Bacon Says Trump Made ‘Mistake’ by Endorsing Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Race
Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican known for occasionally breaking with President Donald Trump, said Sunday that Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate runoff was a “mistake.”
Bacon made the comments during an appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, where he argued that character concerns should have played a larger role in evaluating candidates seeking higher office. He added that he believes the endorsement may have politically hurt Trump.
The remarks came after Trump backed Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in one of the highest-profile Republican primary contests in the country. Trump described Paxton as a “MAGA Warrior” and praised his support for several conservative priorities.
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The endorsement was significant because many Senate Republicans had privately and publicly hoped Trump would support Cornyn, a longtime senator and former member of GOP leadership. Instead, Trump sided with Paxton, reinforcing his influence over Republican primaries and reshaping the dynamics of the Texas race.
Bacon has emerged as one of the more independent Republican voices in Congress and has previously criticized Trump on foreign policy and governance issues. His latest comments add to a broader debate within the GOP over whether loyalty to Trump or candidate electability should be the party’s guiding principle.
The dispute also highlights continuing divisions between establishment Republicans and Trump-aligned conservatives as both sides compete to shape the party’s future heading into upcoming national elections.
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