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President Donald Trump will travel to Texas on Friday for his first public appearance following his State of the Union address, navigating the delicate political waters of a contentious Republican Senate primary race.
In an unusual move, Trump has invited all three Republican Senate candidates to join him at an event promoting his energy and economic policies at the Port of Corpus Christi. The visit comes just days before Texas voters head to the polls on Tuesday, adding significant political weight to what would otherwise be a standard presidential policy tour.
Senator John Cornyn, seeking a fifth term in office, faces stiff competition from state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt in what has become an increasingly personal and bitter primary battle. All three candidates have been eagerly highlighting their connections to Trump, though the former president has notably refrained from endorsing any of them.
Trump’s reluctance to pick a favorite reflects the complicated dynamics of the race. Cornyn, while experienced and well-funded, has faced criticism from conservative Republicans for his earlier skepticism of Trump’s 2024 campaign and his role in crafting stricter gun regulations after the 2022 Uvalde school shooting tragedy.
Senate Republican leadership, including Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott, have pressed Trump to back Cornyn, arguing that he represents the party’s strongest chance to hold the seat in a general election.
“It is a strong possibility we cannot hold Texas if John Cornyn is not our nominee,” Scott told Fox News on Wednesday, highlighting party concerns about Paxton’s electability.
Paxton brings significant baggage to the race. The Attorney General survived impeachment on fraud charges in 2023 and has faced public allegations of marital infidelity by his wife, state Senator Angela Paxton. Republican strategists worry these controversies would make the Texas Senate race unnecessarily competitive and expensive.
Hunt, a second-term congressman representing a Houston-area district, entered the race later but claims a close relationship with Trump. He endorsed Trump early in the 2024 presidential race, campaigned extensively for him, and earned a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
The financial stakes in the primary battle are substantial. Cornyn’s campaign and allied groups have invested more than $63 million in the race since last fall, primarily targeting Paxton but recently expanding attacks against Hunt to prevent him from advancing to a potential runoff.
If no candidate secures 50% of the vote on Tuesday, the top two finishers will face off in a May 26 runoff election.
“I like all three of them, actually. Those are the toughest races. They’ve all supported me. They’re all good. You’re supposed to pick one, so we’ll see what happens. But I support all three,” Trump said earlier this month, maintaining his neutral stance.
Meanwhile, Texas Democrats have their own competitive primary between state Representative James Talarico and U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, setting up what could be a high-profile general election battle.
Trump has been more decisive in other Texas races. During his Corpus Christi visit, he’ll be joined by Eric Flores, his endorsed candidate for Texas’ 34th congressional district, where former Representative Mayra Flores is fighting to reclaim her seat. The winner will challenge Democratic Representative Vicente Gonzalez in a district redrawn to favor Republican candidates.
In another notable race, Trump has endorsed Representative Tony Gonzales, who faces calls to resign after reports of an alleged affair with a former staffer who later died after setting herself on fire. Gonzales has refused to step down and is being challenged by Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer whom Gonzales narrowly defeated in their previous runoff.
Trump’s Texas visit underscores the state’s continued importance to Republican electoral prospects, even as the former president attempts to maintain relationships with competing factions within his party ahead of what promises to be a pivotal election season.
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11 Comments
Interesting to see Trump wading into this contentious Senate primary in Texas. With three staunch supporters vying for the nomination, it must be a delicate balancing act for him. I’m curious to see if he does end up endorsing a candidate or tries to remain neutral.
This race highlights the ongoing divisions within the GOP. It will be telling to see if Trump can help unify his supporters behind a single candidate or if the infighting continues. The energy and economic policy focus of his visit suggests he may be trying to steer the debate in a more constructive direction.
It’s notable that Trump has refrained from endorsing a candidate so far, despite the trio of staunch supporters vying for the nomination. This suggests he may be trying to avoid further fueling the intra-party divisions in Texas.
This race is a prime example of the internal power struggles within the modern Republican Party. Trump’s involvement adds another layer of intrigue, as he tries to balance maintaining his influence while not alienating key allies.
Agreed. Trump’s balancing act here will be closely watched, as it could set the tone for how he approaches the 2024 primary process more broadly.
As a longtime Trump ally, Senator Cornyn must be feeling the pressure to prove his loyalty in this race. However, his previous skepticism of Trump’s 2024 ambitions could complicate things. This will be a test of whether Trump can heal those divides within the party.
Cornyn’s balancing act will be crucial. He needs to energize Trump’s base without alienating more moderate Republicans. It will be a fine line to walk.
This primary battle will be an important test of Trump’s continued influence within the GOP. His handling of the situation could have lasting implications for the party’s direction and unity heading into the 2024 election cycle.
While Trump’s visit could provide a boost for whichever candidate he ends up supporting, the lack of an endorsement so far suggests he may be wary of alienating any of his core backers. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and what impact it has on the primary results.
The bitter nature of this primary contest suggests deep ideological and personal rifts within the Texas GOP. Trump’s visit could help settle those tensions, but it also risks inflaming them further depending on how he navigates the situation.
Absolutely. Trump will have to tread carefully to avoid exacerbating the divisions. His ability to unite or divide his supporters will be on full display.