Trump Declines Endorsement in Fierce Texas GOP Senate Runoff Between Paxton and Cornyn

President Trump chose not to endorse a candidate by Tuesday’s deadline in the fiercely competitive Republican primary runoff for the Texas Senate seat. This decision leaves both contenders, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the current Sen. John Cornyn, to continue their campaigns ahead of the May 26 runoff. Neither managed to secure over 50% of the votes in the earlier primary held this month.

Previously, Trump had expressed his intention to endorse one of the candidates and stated he would urge the other to step aside. On March 4, he posted on Truth Social, declaring, “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’s reasoning for this approach was to halt the contentious GOP primary battle, allowing the party to concentrate efforts on defeating Democratic candidate James Talarico in the upcoming November general election.

Despite Trump’s earlier assertions, neither Cornyn nor Paxton withdrew by the 5 p.m. local time deadline on Tuesday, leaving the runoff battle set to proceed as planned.

In his post, Trump argued the bruising GOP primary “must stop now” so the party could “totally focus” on defeating Democrat James Talarico in the November general election.

Cornyn and Paxton had until 5 p.m. local time Tuesday to withdraw and call off the runoff.

A candidate could still opt to end their campaign if Trump endorses their opponent – but the candidate’s name would stay on runoff election ballots.

Paxton has said he would be willing to drop out if Senate Republicans agreed to roll back the filibuster and pass the president’s prized SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.

The state attorney general argued “no one has been more loyal to Donald Trump than me” – and called Cornyn “a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster” to pass the SAVE America Act –  in the March 5 X post where he indicated he was open to ending his campaign. 

Days later, in an op-ed published by The Post, Cornyn announced his support for scrapping the Senate filibuster to pass the Trump-backed voter ID bill. 

The senator had long defended the 60-vote threshold to pass legislation in the upper chamber but noted, “when the reality on the ground changes, leaders must take stock and adapt.”

Cornyn called for his colleagues to adopt “whatever changes … may prove necessary” to pass the Save America Act, as well as a separate bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security.

The reversal has not yet resulted in a Trump endorsement. 

Shortly after the March 3 primary, speculation swirled that Trump was on the verge of endorsing Cornyn. The president was reportedly agitated by the leaks and did not give anyone his seal of approval. 

Debate on the SAVE America Act commenced in the Senate earlier Tuesday. 

Paxton argued Cornyn should be held responsible if the bill doesn’t pass.

“If the Save America Act fails, it will be because John Cornyn refused to truly fight to get it done,” Paxton said in a statement, according to NBC News. “He’s campaigned on being Mr. Effective in the Swamp, and it’s time for him to put his money where his mouth is.”

Trump signaled in an interview with the outlet that he thinks both Cornyn and Paxton could beat Talarico in November.