Trump to Endorse in Texas Senate Runoff, Demands Loser Drop Out

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will soon endorse a candidate in the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff between incumbent John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, and is demanding the candidate he doesn’t back withdraw from the race. The runoff is scheduled for May 26th.

“IT MUST STOP NOW!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. “We have an effortless 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 quality enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!” He added he would ask the candidate he doesn’t endorse to “immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!”

A Tight Race Heads to Overtime

Neither Cornyn nor Paxton secured a majority vote in Tuesday’s primary election, necessitating the runoff. Cornyn led Paxton by less than 30,000 votes with 98% of the vote counted according to the Texas Tribune. The race has already become the most expensive Senate primary in history.

Trump’s Influence and GOP Strategy

Trump’s announcement follows months of neutrality in the contentious primary. Top Senate Republicans have been actively lobbying for Trump’s endorsement of Cornyn, arguing that his lead in the initial primary results demonstrates his electability as reported by CNN. Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested an early endorsement would save both parties significant financial resources and allow Republicans to focus on the general election.

The winner of the Republican primary will face state Sen. James Talarico, who won the Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett according to the Associated Press. Talarico is already campaigning for the general election.

A ‘Knife Fight’ Looms

Texas GOP operatives anticipate a fierce and expensive runoff battle. Enrique Marquez, former chief of staff to former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, described the upcoming contest as “a knife fight in a phone booth” as reported by the Texas Tribune, citing the substantial financial investment expected and the deep personal animosity between Cornyn and Paxton.

Paxton’s Controversies and Cornyn’s Experience

Paxton, a long-time ally of Trump, faces a history of legal challenges and scandals, including impeachment by his own party and indictments related to securities fraud and allegations of infidelity. Cornyn, a veteran of Republican Senate leadership, has strong support within the party establishment.

Senator Ted Cruz announced Wednesday he would not be making an endorsement in the race, stating he is friends with both candidates and trusts the voters of Texas to make the final decision.