John Cornyn's loss to Ken Paxton in the May 2026 Republican primary runoff, following Donald Trump's endorsement of the challenger, has left the former incumbent critical of his party's nominee. Recent statements from Cornyn in September 2026 described Paxton as flawed, confirmed he would not fundraise for the general election campaign against Democrat James Talarico, and noted limited Republican consolidation behind the nominee. Cornyn has reiterated plans to support the ticket while avoiding active backing, and Talarico has signaled openness to a cross-aisle endorsement. These dynamics, combined with the absence of any announced Cornyn endorsement weeks before the November vote, underpin trader consensus around no endorsement occurring, amid broader Republican concerns over the race's competitiveness.