President Donald Trump has not yet decided which candidate to support in the highly competitive Republican Senate primary in Texas. While speaking to reporters on Air Force One, he said, “I haven’t made a decision on that race yet. I like all three of them.”
With early voting set to begin ahead of the March 3 primary, Trump mentioned several contenders: Republican Rep. John Cornyn, who is running for re-election; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton; and two-term Rep. Wesley Hunt, a West Point graduate and Army veteran who appeals to the Republican base in the Houston area. Both Paxton and Hunt are challenging Cornyn in what has become an intense nomination battle.
“They all support me. They’re all good, and you should choose one. So we’ll see what happens, but I support all three,” Trump remarked.
Cornyn is seeking his fifth term in the Senate and has support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He expressed his friendship with Trump, noting, “I’ve supported him for three terms.” However, both Paxton—a strong Trump ally—and Hunt have criticized Cornyn’s loyalty, labeling him as a “RINO,” or “Republican in Name Only.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee and other establishment Republicans are worried that if Paxton wins the primary, it could open the doors for a Democratic victory in the general election. They cite Paxton’s ongoing legal troubles and a contentious divorce as potential liabilities.
The race looks tight, with recent polls indicating that Paxton and Cornyn may be neck-and-neck, while Hunt appears to be trailing. Trump acknowledged there’s still a long way to go in the race for the Texas Senate nomination.
If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote in the March primary, a runoff is likely to happen on May 27. Trump’s previous comments hinted that he might be leaning toward an endorsement soon.
On the Democratic side, Representative Jasmine Crockett and state Representative James Talarico are competing for their party’s nomination, with both being viewed as rising figures within the party.
