Trump Allows Key Deadline to Expire, Setting Up Huge Republican Showdown
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trump has substantially shaped Texas politics ahead of the 2026 midterms, endorsing many GOP candidates in February, but has not endorsed in the Texas senate primary between incumbent John Cornyn and challenger Ken Paxton as of the latest reporting. The New York Post notes there still hasn’t been an endorsement for that race, which is now headed to a runoff on May 26, with the winner facing democrat James Talarico in November. A Trump endorsement could have a major impact in what appears to be a competitive contest, but the absence of a decision has drawn attention. Previously,Trump indicated he would withhold endorsement until the Save America Act was on his desk; the act would impose voter ID and citizenship requirements,limit certain mail-in ballots,prohibit transgender operations for youth,and other measures. while the Save America Act is progressing,it has not yet become law.
President Donald Trump already has his fingerprints all over various key races in Texas ahead of the 2026 midterms.
In February, the president took to his page and endorsed just about every GOP candidate imaginable in the Lone Star State.
There was one glaring exception: Trump did not endorse a candidate for the Republican Senate primary.
And he still hasn’t.
According to the New York Post, as of Tuesday evening, Trump still had not picked between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and challenger Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general.
Cornyn and Paxton are headed for a special runoff after neither candidate was able to procure 50 percent of the votes — ostensibly a huge showdown in a state that the GOP is desperately trying to keep from turning purple.
Trump’s endorsement could trigger a major swing in what appears to be a rather competitive race — but the fact that Tuesday passed without an endorsement is raising eyebrows.
Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to drop out, and that’s significant.
Because as CNN reported, Trump had made clear that he expected the candidate he didn’t endorse to drop out of the race.
That, obviously, will not be possible now.
While it’s unclear if Trump forgot the deadline or simply can’t pick between Cornyn and Paxton, the president did previously explain to CNN’s Dana Bash that he would withhold his critical endorsement until the SAVE America Act was on his desk.
7/7 And on Texas GOP Senate race, President Trump said he will make a “decision fairly shortly” but that he wants “to have the full and complete Save America Act (which Includes trans issues now) “We have to have voter ID. We have to have proof of citizenship We have to have no…
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) March 6, 2026
According to Bash, Trump said he wanted “to have the full and complete Save America Act (which Includes trans issues now).”
For Trump, this issue was absolutely critical.
“We have to have voter ID. We have to have proof of citizenship We have to have no mail in ballots except the military, illness, disability and travel. We have to have no men in women’s sports — I added two things, and we have to have no transgender operations for youth.”
The SAVE America Act, which aims to require voters to provide identification before voting, is progressing, but still has not made it to his desk.
The Texas primary runoff between Cornyn and Paxton is now slated for May 26. The winner of that will go on to face Democratic nominee James Talarico in the November midterms.
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