Trump’s Endorsement Looms Over Texas Primary as GOP Scrambles
In a game of political chess, President Donald Trump is poised to make a pivotal endorsement in the Texas primary, and the Republican establishment is feeling the heat. The stakes? A staggering $100 million in donor money that could be wasted in a fierce runoff battle between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who recently finished a hair’s breadth behind Cornyn in the primary.
“I hope it’s coming soon,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, echoing the urgency of his fellow Republicans as they rally behind Cornyn. The clock is ticking, with just 12 weeks until the runoff showdown.
Beyond the financial implications lies a fear within the party that this internal strife could inadvertently boost Democratic candidate James Talarico, who emerged as the clear winner of his primary. Trump’s lengthy post on Truth Social reflected his awareness of the potential fallout from a costly intra-party battle, where he stressed the need for Republicans to “TOTALLY FOCUS” on defeating the “Radical Left Opponent.”
Throughout Wednesday, Cornyn’s Senate colleagues made a concerted effort to win Trump’s favor. In an exclusive interview for POLITICO’s “The Conversation,” Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) asserted that Cornyn was “without a doubt the candidate to win in November.” Her remarks came just before she attended a roundtable event at the White House with Trump.
As the whispers grew louder, multiple Republicans conveyed their concerns directly to Trump, fearing that a Senate seat held by the GOP since 1961 could slip away if scandal-plagued Paxton leads the ticket. During a closed-door lunch, Senate Republicans were informed that Trump is likely to endorse a candidate soon, although his choice remains a mystery.
Despite uncertainty, hope flickered for Cornyn’s allies as he appeared to be gaining traction. As of Wednesday evening, Cornyn led Paxton by approximately 25,000 votes, with over 95 percent of ballots counted, a significant improvement given pre-election polls that had put him behind.
A campaign aide for Cornyn claimed there is “new momentum” following the primary results. “The case got stronger because of last night — that’s undeniable,” the aide noted, suggesting that discussions are intensifying regarding Trump’s endorsement.
Arriving back in the Senate, Cornyn sidestepped questions about Trump’s potential endorsement. His colleagues welcomed him warmly, with Senate GOP leader John Barrasso playfully referring to him as “Big John.”
While several former aides from Trump’s campaign are now working with Cornyn, the former president has a history of favoring Paxton, a staunch MAGA supporter who played a role in the efforts to contest the 2020 election results. A Republican ally of Paxton, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out that Trump is aware of the base’s disdain for Cornyn and the risks of alienating them through an endorsement of the sitting senator.
“He knows Cornyn is a squish and RINO,” the source remarked, indicating the delicate balancing act Trump must perform. “But he’s got to make a pragmatic decision based on what people are telling him.”
As the dust settles on the primary, Cornyn’s supporters are left to wonder if they will receive the endorsement they crave, especially as the final vote counts are confirmed.
“Any president would prefer to be aligned with the winning campaign,” said a GOP donor, reflecting on the endorsement dynamics.
Meanwhile, Talarico’s nomination, coupled with a bruising battle between two Republicans, was exactly the scenario party leaders hoped to avoid ahead of Tuesday’s election. Internal polls had previously indicated that while Paxton would likely lose to Talarico by three points, Cornyn could secure a win.
Despite Cornyn’s strong showing, a Republican close to Paxton contended that the attorney general is well-positioned for a runoff, given that the primary electorate tends to skew more conservative. They suggested that Talarico’s past comments on transgender rights and his progressive interpretation of the Bible make him more vulnerable than some Republicans realize.
“I guess it’s fair to say he was a little bit stronger than expected,” the source conceded.
However, this favorable outcome for Cornyn has provided his colleagues with a compelling argument to end the intra-party rivalry. “John Cornyn is the best bet to win the November election,” stated Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump confidant. Barrasso echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the critical importance of nominating a candidate capable of securing victory in November.
“We need to hold that seat, which means we need to nominate someone who is going to win in November,” Barrasso added. “The person that will win in November is John Cornyn.”
Dasha Burns and Adam Wren contributed to this report.
