Trump to endorse in Cornyn-Paxton race for US Senate, expects other to drop out
President Donald Trump teased an endorsement in the U.S. Senate runoff election between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney Ken Paxton, adding that he expects the other Republican candidate to drop out “immediately.”
Neither Cornyn nor Paxton received more than 50% of the votes on March 3, pushing the two candidates into a May runoff. Both ran good races, “but not good enough,” Trump wrote.
In his post, the president said that the campaigning for the nomination must stop now so Republicans can focus on beating the “Radical Left Opponent,” Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.
“I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair?” Trump said in the post. “We must win in November!!!”
Before Tuesday’s election, Trump avoided questions by reporters asking who he supported in the race. He said Cornyn, Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt were all good choices.
Cornyn, Paxton talk Trump in election night speeches
During their respective March 3 election night watch parties, Paxton reminded his supporters of his allegiance to the president while Cornyn defended Trump’s decision not to endorse.
Cornyn, talking to reporters, addressed whether he expects Trump to get involved in the race in the runoff.
“There’s only one person on the planet who knows what President Trump is going to do, and that’s President Trump,” Cornyn said.
Cornyn said he talks to the president on a “regular basis” and that Trump knows what’s at stake. It’s understandable that Trump didn’t want to wade into a contested primary between himself, Paxton and Hunt, Cornyn said.
“He didn’t want to have to choose between us and disappoint some of his own base of support, and I think he wanted to see me earn this, earn this nomination, as we are well on the path to doing, before he made any kind of decision,” Cornyn said.
When or if Trump gets involved is entirely up to the president, he said.
Paxton’s first words as he took to the podium after the runoff election was decided were in gratitude to his family and supporters. Immediately after, he mentioned his loyalty to Trump.
“I was actually at Mar-a-Lago when President Trump announced he was running again in 2024,” Paxton said. “I don’t know if you remember that it was right after the midterms that everyone was turning on the president. The establishment, the media and most Republican elected officials in America were lining up against him, not me.”
Paxton said Texas deserves better than Cornyn, who has been in the seat since 2002. He said Cornyn sold Texans out to Democrats and sided with former President Joe Biden to push “the worst gun control bill in decades.”
While Biden was in office, Paxton filed 107 lawsuits against the administration over alleged abuses of power.
“I think it’s time we send President Trump some reinforcements,” Paxton said in reference to why he should be Texas’ next senator.
