Posted on 03/04/2026 12:16:35 PM PST by Miami Rebel
President Donald Trump teased an endorsement in Texas’s bruising GOP Senate primary on social media Wednesday, saying he will soon pick a candidate and asking the other to “DROP OUT OF THE RACE.”
On Tuesday night, the GOP primary between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) resulted in a run-off.
“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!” Trump posted to Truth Social, adding:
We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively! Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT! My Endorsements within the Republican Party have been virtually insurmountable! It is such an honor to realize and say that almost everyone I Endorse WINS, and wins by a lot, especially in Texas! 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!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker reported just before Trump’s post that the president is “expected” to endorse Sen. Cornyn following “following the incumbent’s better-than-expected finish.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) also signaled optimism that Trump will back his pick in the race – Cornyn. Thune told Punchbowl News on Wednesday that Trump’s endorsement “saves everybody a lot of money” and that “If the president can weigh in, it would make it enormously helpful.”
Thune tells me Cornyn “had a great night” and that an early Trump endorsement in the runoff “saves everybody a lot of money.”
“If the president can weigh in, it would make it enormously helpful” ahead of what will be a brutal runoff campaign
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) March 4, 2026
That’s what I was hearing this afternoon. If there is an outright brawl for the seat, they would have to spend a ton of money AND they risk losing.
So, Paxton is probably going to get some cushy job in DC and Cornyn goes back to the Senate.
Maybe Pam will resign to spend more time with….well, whomever she spends more time with. Ken can step up into that role.
I get it. Free Republic is no fan of Cornyn. I’m not either.
If I were a Texan, my heart would say Paxton and my head would say Cornyn. I hate to say that - but most important is keeping the seat in GOP hands.
If we were facing Crockett as the Dem nominee, I’d go with Paxton. But since it’s Talarico, I’d unwillingly go with Cornyn.
I’m invoking the Buckley Rule here.
I agree, but as I have for the since post-Reagan era. I will hold my nose and vote for whoever runs against the Talcrapo guy as I did for both Bushes and McStain.
If you total votes for Paxton and Hunt, Cornyn has less, right? (Not sure.)
Wesley Hunt should have dropped out of the race weeks ago.
I get that he is fully invested in winning, but the prospects remain low. Meanwhile, a split GOP vote equals Cornyn remaining where he is.
Trump really needs to stay out of this - the man’s ability to endorse the wrong candidates remains unmatched. I voted for Paxton yesterday and will vote for him again in the runoff - Cornyn will just repay Trump’s endorsement by stabbing him in the back at the first opportunity. In this case, Trump’s base knows what’s better for Trump than Trump does.
Cornyn has said he wants another term to fix immigration. Considering the only thing wrong with our immigration system, as it has been abused by our government, I’m not voting for a fix. I have zero doubt if there is a Democrat president Cornyn will work with Democrats to push through honesty.
>> Sadly, I think he’ll endorse Cornyn.
Be that as it may — I don’t give a rat’s ass WHO endorses Cornyn, my vote is for Ken Paxton.
The Cornyns in the Senate is why the Senate is such a left-leaning cesspool as it is. NO MORE CORNYNS!
“I also think he would have endorsed Paxton if Paxton came out ahead of Cornyn in the primary. Just an inkling but that’s what I think”
Yeah I think that is it. Trump is focused on Nov.
way less, and that’s my contention as well. Paxton/Hunt votes total about 55% to cornyn’s 40%. To ME, that says Paxton should get the endorsement.
I REALLY REALLY hope Trump endorses Paxton. Cornyn.needs.to.go.
Hunt was set up to be a splitter.
Paxton is the ONLY opponent to EVER force Cornholio into a run off in his 24 YEAR Senate grifting career.
If Thune doesn’t deliver on the SAVE act I’d tell him he’s dead to me and do the opposite of what he asks.
I also won’t vote for
Cornyn !!
Same here, I’ve about had it with Trump’s antics. Paxton is clearly the candidate to back, but if he backs Cornyn then that tells me he cares more about the establishment than for true conservatives. I guess I should expect as much from a moderate.
Correct
>> If you total votes for Paxton and Hunt, Cornyn has less, right? (Not sure.)
Yes, absolutely. Hunt got about 13%, Paxton 41%, Cornhole 42%.
If Hunt DOESN’T endorse Paxton, his career in Texas politics is finished. So I hope Hunt has the good sense to do so. That would leave Trump looking stupid if he endorses Cornhole.
All the “abandon Paxton for the sake of unity” idiots will end up with egg on their faces, IMHO.
If he backs Cornyn it will be not only extremely disappointing but a very stupid move on Trump’s part. Cornyn may promise now to vote Trump’s way but he will be lying.
Trump needs to stop listening to Thune. Cornyn only finished one percent ahead of Paxton. For the life of me, I don't know why Paxton didn't just run away with this. Nobody I know in Texas supports Cornyn.
I’m fine with this as long as he doesn’t endorse that do-nothing creep Cornyn.
Amen, sister! I hope Trump does the right thing here and not what some dumba$$ rino tells him is best
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