President Trump remains undecided on the contentious Texas Senate primary race that has pitted incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn against two challengers from within his party.

“I just haven’t made a decision on that race yet,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday night as he returned to Washington from Florida. “I like all three of them.”

The comments came as early voting began in Texas ahead of the March 3 primary, where Cornyn faces challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and two-term Rep. Wesley Hunt, a West Point graduate and former Apache helicopter pilot who represents a solidly Republican district in the Houston area.

“They’ve all supported me. They’re all good, and you’re supposed to pick one. So, we’ll see what happens, but I support all three,” Trump added, suggesting he isn’t ready to formally endorse any of the candidates.

The race has become one of the most closely watched Republican primaries in the country, representing the ongoing tension between establishment Republicans and the MAGA wing of the party. Polling indicates a competitive race, with most surveys showing Paxton and Cornyn in a tight battle at the top, with Hunt in third position.

Cornyn, seeking a fifth six-year term in the Senate, has been working to highlight his loyalty to Trump, claiming he supported the former president “99.3% of the time” during his first administration. The incumbent has secured endorsements from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).

Despite Cornyn’s efforts, both Paxton and Hunt have questioned his allegiance to Trump and portrayed him as a “Republican In Name Only” (RINO). Both challengers have positioned themselves as stronger allies to Trump’s agenda and more aligned with the MAGA movement.

The NRSC and establishment Republicans have expressed concern that if Paxton secures the nomination, it could provide Democrats an opportunity to flip the Senate seat in November’s general election. They point to the numerous scandals and legal issues that have dogged Paxton throughout his tenure as state attorney general, including an ongoing messy divorce that has made headlines in Texas.

The stakes are particularly high as Republicans defend their 53-47 majority in the Senate. Texas has traditionally been a Republican stronghold, but changing demographics and competitive races in recent years have given Democrats hope of making inroads in the state.

Political analysts expect the GOP primary to advance to a May 27 runoff, which would occur if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in March. This extended timeline could give Trump more opportunity to assess the race before potentially making an endorsement.

Earlier this month, Trump told reporters he was “taking a serious look” at making an endorsement in the race, suggesting a decision would come soon. His continued neutrality indicates the political complexities of the contest and potentially the strategic value of remaining above the fray for now.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a progressive and vocal Trump critic, is competing against state Rep. James Talarico, a former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, for their party’s nomination. Both are viewed as rising stars within the Texas Democratic Party.

The Texas Senate race represents a microcosm of the broader Republican Party dynamics, where loyalty to Trump often becomes a central campaign issue and where establishment figures increasingly face challenges from candidates who position themselves as more authentic representatives of the MAGA movement.

As early voting continues and the March primary approaches, all three Republican candidates will likely continue their appeals for Trump’s endorsement, which could prove decisive in a closely contested primary race in a state where the former president maintains strong support.