Republican voter claims he switched sides in Texas primary after Trump endorsement

A Republican voter in Texas claimed on Tuesday that he had stopped supporting MAGA front-runner Ken Paxton in the state's Senate primary race after President Donald Trump endorsed him.

"I made one vote, and that was for [Sen. John] Cornyn," Rodney Hall, a Republican voter, told CNN's Arlette Saenz.

"And why is that?" she asked.

"Primarily because he's not supported by Trump. I think he's ruined my Republican Party," Hall said.

Hall's comments came as voters anxiously awaited the results of the bruising Texas Senate primary race. Both Cornyn and Paxton have been at each other's throats during the campaign, with Cornyn playing up Paxton's numerous scandals in his ads and Paxton hitting back with unsavory attacks of his own.

Seven out of the top 10 public polls compiled by The New York Times had Paxton besting Cornyn on Tuesday.

The voter's comments about Trump also happened at a time when Trump's support within the Republican Party appears to be fading. A new poll had Trump's approval rating at around 36%, which is where former President Joe Biden was ahead of the 2022 midterms.