John Cornyn is refusing calls from Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George to end negative advertising in the Republican Senate runoff.
Instead, Cornyn pledged to continue attacking his opponent just days after President Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton.
“As Chairman of the Texas GOP, I’m calling on both Senate candidates to pull all negative advertising,” George wrote Thursday on X. “It’s time to start preparing for November, and we can finish this runoff campaign on a positive note from both sides.”
Paxton quickly agreed to the request, announcing that his campaign had already shifted its television advertising strategy.
“We have already changed our TV ad traffic starting today to ensure our campaign ends on a positive note and that we can focus on beating the leftist lunatic in the fall,” Paxton wrote on X. “I’m calling on Cornyn to do the same for the good of our party.”
Cornyn, however, indicated he has no intention of backing off attacks against the attorney general.
“We are going to continue to tell the truth about Paxton,” Cornyn posted on X. “He’s escaped accountability for too long. Judgment day is coming.”
The exchange comes days after Trump endorsed Paxton in the closely watched Republican Senate runoff, delivering what many observers viewed as a major blow to Cornyn’s campaign.
In his endorsement, Trump praised Paxton as an “America First Patriot” and “true MAGA Warrior,” while criticizing Cornyn for being “very late” to support him during his presidential campaigns.
Cornyn responded to the endorsement earlier this week by touting his relationship with Trump and arguing Republican voters should prioritize electability in November.
“I have worked closely with President Trump through both of his Presidential terms and voted with him more than 99% of the time,” Cornyn wrote on X. “He has consistently called me a friend in this race.”
The runoff has become one of the most expensive Republican Senate primaries in the nation, with both campaigns and outside groups spending tens of millions of dollars on advertising and voter outreach.
Early voting continues through Friday. Election Day is May 26.
