Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has gained another endorsement in his bid to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, ahead of the May 26 Republican primary runoff, with Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, throwing his support behind the challenger.

Owens, a former NFL and college football player who recently announced he will not seek reelection, cited both personal ties to Texas and Paxton’s record in his endorsement. He pointed to his family’s history in the state and said Paxton represents the kind of leadership needed in the Senate.

The endorsement adds to a growing list of support for Paxton, including backing from the Conservative Political Action Conference and Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas. Cornyn, meanwhile, has secured endorsements from several Texas Republicans, including Reps. Randy Weber, Nathaniel Moran, and Roger Williams.

One major endorsement remains outstanding: President Donald Trump has yet to weigh in on the race. Trump previously said he would make an endorsement “soon,” but has not done so more than a month after the initial primary. His support is widely viewed as potentially decisive in a closely contested runoff.

Cornyn narrowly led Paxton in the March 3 primary, finishing with 42% of the vote to Paxton’s 40.5%, forcing a runoff after no candidate secured a majority.

Recent polling suggests Paxton may have gained ground. A Quantus Insights survey released March 24 showed Paxton leading 48.8% to 41.3%, with a small share of voters still undecided. Another polling memo cited by Newsweek indicated a tighter race, with Paxton ahead 47% to 42%.

Political observers say the lack of a Trump endorsement has kept the race competitive, though Paxton is increasingly seen as having momentum heading into the final stretch. The outcome of the runoff could shape the broader political landscape in Texas as Republicans seek to maintain their hold on the seat.