Trump Withholds Endorsement as Texas GOP Senate Primary Heats Up
At a Corpus Christi energy event Trump declined to endorse Cornyn, Paxton or Hunt, keeping a high-stakes Texas GOP Senate primary unresolved ahead of a likely May 26 runoff.
Overview
At a Corpus Christi energy event on Friday President Trump greeted John Cornyn, Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt but declined to endorse any of the Republicans, calling them "great," according to multiple accounts.
The decision matters because a University of Texas poll shows Paxton at 36 percent, Cornyn at 34 percent and Hunt at 26 percent, making a May 26 runoff likely.
Senate Republican leadership and fundraising arms have repeatedly requested a Cornyn endorsement, several people familiar with the outreach said.
About $110 million has been spent on the Senate primaries, with roughly $88 million in the GOP contest and nearly $70 million aired by Cornyn and allied outside groups, AdImpact reported.
If no candidate clears 50 percent, the top two advance to a May 26 runoff, and Trump has not announced a final endorsement, leaving the contest open.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the event as a theatrical 'cliffhanger' emphasizing Trump’s coyness and performative moments. Editorial choices use loaded verbs (e.g., "boasted"), colorful metaphors, and selective emphasis on polls and critics to create skepticism. Direct quotes from Trump and officials are presented as source content, not editorial claims.
Sources (11)
FAQ
Trump has deliberately avoided endorsing in the Texas Senate primary, despite having the opportunity to do so at his Friday event in Corpus Christi where John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Wesley Hunt were all present. While Trump acknowledged all three candidates and called them "great people," he refrained from backing any of them, even though he told reporters beforehand that he had "pretty much" decided but refused to disclose his choice. This strategy keeps the race unpredictable as the primary approaches what is likely to be a May 26 runoff.
According to a University of Texas poll, Ken Paxton leads at 36 percent, John Cornyn is close behind at 34 percent, and Wesley Hunt trails at 26 percent. These numbers suggest that no candidate is likely to reach the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff, making a May 26 runoff highly probable.
Approximately $88 million has been spent in the Republican Senate primary contest, with roughly $70 million of that coming from Cornyn and allied outside groups, according to AdImpact data. Overall, about $110 million has been spent across all Texas Senate primaries combined.
In a ruby-red state like Texas, a Trump endorsement could be decisive in determining the outcome of the primary. With the race showing tight polling numbers and the likelihood of a runoff, Trump's backing could provide the decisive boost needed to push a candidate above the 50 percent threshold or secure victory in the runoff, especially given Trump's demonstrated influence within the Republican Party.
Trump took a different approach in other Texas races, endorsing multiple candidates in statewide and congressional primaries on the same day, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. However, he notably withheld endorsements in two other contested races—the Congressional District 34 race where Rep. Tony Gonzales faced Brandon Herrera, and the Houston-area race where Rep. Dan Crenshaw competed against state Rep. Steve Toth, suggesting Trump strategically picked and chose which primaries to influence.
History
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