{"id":2629859,"date":"2026-07-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-candidates-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T06:02:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:02:52","slug":"trump-backed-candidates-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-candidates-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump-backed candidates aren&#8217;t courting endorsements of outgoing senators"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-backed-candidates-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629859&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the absence of endorsements from outgoing Senators John Cornyn, Bill Cassidy, adn Thom Tillis as they consider their successors in key Senate races. Cornyn and Cassidy, who lost contentious primaries to Trump-backed opponents, are not endorsing their defeated rivals-Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow-indicating lingering tensions within the GOP. Conversely, Tillis remains open to supporting his state&#8217;s Republican nominee, Michael Whatley, though Whatley has not sought his endorsement. North Carolina&#8217;s Senate race is seen as highly competitive, with polls suggesting Democrats have an edge, prompting Tillis to advise that Whatley may need to moderate his stance to appeal to wider voters. Meanwhile, Cassidy predicts Letlow will win easily, while Cornyn has distanced himself from campaigning for Paxton and plans to skip a GOP convention in Texas. the article highlights strategic differences and party dynamics in play following recent primaries.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trio of candidates vying to replace Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\">Bill Cassidy<\/a> (R-LA), and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-tillis\/\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC) has, at least so far, not sought their endorsements, the outgoing senators told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The moves, or lack thereof, from the possible successors offer windows into GOP campaign strategies and lingering party tensions after contentious home state primaries.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648785\/marines-florida-william-upham-trump-antichrist\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Marines disavow Florida House candidate who said \u2018Antichrist\u2019 Trump \u2018must be killed\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648756\/durbin-duckworth-maine-senate-nirav-shah\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Durbin joins Duckworth in opposing Maine\u2019s Nirav Shah over 2015 disease outbreak<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4648442\/scott-bessent-no-chance-run-for-lindsey-graham-seat\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Scott Bessent says there is \u2018no chance\u2019 he will run for Lindsey Graham\u2019s Senate seat<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The absence of endorsements from Cornyn and Cassidy could be expected. They lost bitter contests to Trump-backed opponents, and there\u2019s no indication that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) would be interested in support from the men they unseated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tillis is another story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second-term lawmaker declined reelection amid public disagreement with President Donald Trump and threats of a Trump-backed primary challenger. Unlike Cornyn and Cassidy, Tillis is openly supportive of his state\u2019s GOP nominee, Michael Whatley, even if he feels the former Republican National Committee chairman should tack toward the center to appeal to swing voters in a battleground state against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In interviews with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> this week at the Capitol, Tillis described his endorsement as up for grabs. \u201cI\u2019m happy to endorse him,\u201d Tillis said. But Whatley hasn\u2019t sought his aid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf I can help, I will help. All they have to do is call on me,\u201d Tillis said, noting that Whatley has not reached out to him. \u201cIt\u2019s however I can be helpful. I\u2019m here to get more red jerseys on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Whatley campaign did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">North Carolina is one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/north-carolina-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html?eafs_enabled=false\">Polling<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/senate-race-ratings\">nonpartisan election forecasters<\/a> give Democrats an edge in flipping it. Tillis, a centrist among his Senate GOP colleagues, sees that as an accurate assessment. Cooper has won statewide elections six times between state attorney general and governor. Roughly 40% of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/vt.ncsbe.gov\/RegStat\/Results?date=2026-07-11\">registered North Carolina voters<\/a> are unaffiliated, a data point Tillis sees as evidence that Whatley needs a post-primary shift toward the center.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou don\u2019t win the state of North Carolina if you get 100% of all Republicans, and obviously, 100% of all registered Republicans don\u2019t vote,\u201d Tillis said. \u201cMichael\u2019s got to get to that center-right, which is a sweet spot for Republicans in statewide elections. He\u2019s got some work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">President Donald Trump watches while Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley speaks to the troops in Fort Bragg, N.C., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Matt Ramey)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26044750790665_51a5d9.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump watches while Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley speaks to the troops in Fort Bragg, N.C., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Matt Ramey)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike Tillis, Cornyn and Cassidy have shown no desire to lend a helping hand to those who are sending them packing from Congress.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn confirmed Tuesday that Paxton has not sought his endorsement in what is also a battleground seat that Democrats are spending big to try to flip. He previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4601401\/cornyn-paxton-texas-senate-campaign-talarico\/\">told the <\/a><em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4601401\/cornyn-paxton-texas-senate-campaign-talarico\/\">Washington Examiner<\/a> <\/em>he would not campaign for Paxton against Democratic nominee James Talarico but would still vote for the GOP nominee. Cornyn has also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4647060\/cornyn-midterm-convention-snub-paxton-texas\/\">suggested he\u2019ll snub<\/a> a midterm GOP convention in September in Texas that will essentially offer a pep rally for Paxton.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cassidy told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> Tuesday he expects Letlow to \u201cwin handily\u201d in what is a safe Republican race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4579903\/thom-tillis-trump-stupid-stuff-hurting-gop\/\">THOM TILLIS CLAPS BACK AT TRUMP OVER \u2018STUPID STUFF\u2019 HURTING GOP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe\u2019s not talked to me, but I don\u2019t think she wants my endorsement,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cWe\u2019ve not discussed it at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither the Paxton nor Letlow campaigns responded to inquiries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>David Sivak contributed to this report. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Candidates for Senate seats haven&#8217;t sought endorsements, revealing GOP tensions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2629860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26085753027920-1.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[21510,82736,37677],"class_list":["post-2629859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-endorsements","tag-outgoing-senators","tag-trump-backed-candidates"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26085753027920-1.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629859"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629863,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629859\/revisions\/2629863"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}