Trump withholds endorsement for Texas Senate GOP primary
– President Donald Trump has not endorsed any candidate in Texas’s Senate GOP primary, saying he hasn’t decided yet and that he likes all three contenders: incumbent Sen. john Cornyn, Texas attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt.
– A pulse Decision Science poll shows Paxton leading with about 36%, Cornyn at 27%, Hunt at 15%, and roughly 22% undecided.
– Trump’s reluctance to pick a candidate has frustrated GOP leaders who fear a costly three-way primary could drain resources and hurt unity in the general election.
– Republican leaders are hoping Trump will endorse Cornyn to help consolidate support in the race.
– The primary is on March 3, with early voting starting Tuesday; the winner will face either state Rep. James Talarico or Rep. Jasmine Crockett in November.
Trump withholds endorsement for Texas Senate GOP primary
President Donald Trump refused to endorse a candidate in the GOP primary for the Senate election in Texas.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday night, the president said he hasn’t made his choice on who he might endorse, instead praising all three.
“I just haven’t made a decision on that race yet. It’s got a ways to go,” Trump told reporters. “I like all three of them, actually.”
He continued, “They’ve all supported me, they’re all good and you’re supposed to pick one. So we’ll see what happens, but I support all three.”
It is a shocking lack of commitment that is sure to infuriate Texas Republicans who fear a lack of unity on the election could pose a threat to holding on to the seat.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who is running for what would be an unprecedented fifth term in the state, is facing two formidable challengers, namely Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX).
According to a Pulse Decision Science survey, Paxton is currently polling ahead of Cornyn at approximately 36%, compared to the incumbent’s 27%. Hunt trails with just 15% support, but approximately 22% remain undecided.
Paxton began his run for the GOP nomination with a relatively low profile and less spending than Cornyn, but has kicked his campaign into high gear as the primary approaches.
Republican leaders have been frustrated by Trump’s decision not to explicitly back Cornyn over his opponents, seeking it as an unnecessary risk of making the once solidly Republican seat a real competition.
Additionally, fears exist that the three-way primary could be using up financial resources the party could need in the general election later this year.
GOP LEADERS WANT TRUMP TO ENDORSE CORNYN IN TEXAS SENATE PRIMARY AMID FEARS OF COSTLY FIGHT
The winner will either face state Rep. James Talarico, a seminary student and former school teacher, or Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), a fiery one-term House Democrat looking to jump into the upper chamber.
The primary election is set to be held on March 3, but early voting will begin Tuesday.
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