President Donald Trump says he will soon endorse a candidate in the Texas Republican Senate runoff and urged the rival candidate to drop out of the race.
HOUSTON — President Donald Trump says he plans to endorse a candidate in Texas’ closely watched Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff — and is urging the candidate he does not support to leave the race.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump said the ongoing Republican primary contest should end quickly for the sake of the party.
“The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas, a State I LOVE and won 3 times in Record Numbers (the HIGHEST vote ever recorded, by far!!!), cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW!” the president said in his social post.
Trump said he intends to endorse one of the two remaining candidates and will ask the other to step aside.
“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? We must win in November!!!” the president said in his social post.
KHOU political analyst Brandon Rottinghaus says Trump’s decision could say a lot about his level of control over the GOP in Texas.
“Donald Trump is kingmaker in Texas,” said Rottinghaus. “That’s not unsurprising. Trump’s numbers among Republican supporters is pretty high and his endorsement rate is good in terms of success. This definitely means that Donald Trump is effectively in control of the Republican party in Texas.”
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Cornyn and Paxton headed to runoff
The Republican primary race in Texas is headed to a May 26 runoff between longtime U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Neither candidate secured a majority in the primary, setting up the second round of voting. Pundits predict it will be an intense, expensive runoff.
“It’s going to get ugly and it’s going to drag down whichever nominee ends up being the winner,” Rottinghaus said.
The race also included U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who finished third and conceded, leaving Cornyn and Paxton as the top two candidates.
Both remaining candidates have campaigned heavily on their connections to Trump, who had not endorsed anyone in the race during the primary.
Cornyn seeking fifth Senate term
Cornyn is seeking a fifth term in the U.S. Senate but faces a serious challenge from Paxton.
The senator is trying to avoid becoming the first Republican senator in Texas history not to win renomination.
His relationship with Trump has at times been strained, which political observers say has made the GOP primary challenge even greater.
Cornyn and allied groups have spent at least $64 million in television advertising since July in an effort to stabilize his support.
Paxton enters race with strong support
Paxton began campaigning in earnest only recently, but remains popular among many Texas Republicans.
He has drawn national attention for filing lawsuits against Democratic initiatives and was acquitted during a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges.
Paxton has also faced accusations of marital infidelity from his wife.
Both Cornyn and Paxton have highlighted their ties to the former president during the campaign.
The Republican nominee will advance to the November general election.
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