Trump Holds Back Endorsement in Texas GOP Senate Race, Upending Cornyn’s Bid

Feb 25, 2026

Sen. Cornyn: I've worked hand-in-glove with President Trump

President Donald Trump’s decision to withhold an endorsement in the tight Texas Republican U.S. Senate primary has added a new twist to the March 3 nomination fight that could reshape the GOP’s general-election prospects.

For the first time in recent memory, Trump has not backed a candidate in a key intra-party fight, even as early voting gets underway. That failure to pick a side matters because Trump’s influence among Republican voters remains strong, and most major GOP contenders have been vying for his nod.

Longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is being challenged by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, stretching a race once expected to favor Cornyn into a much closer contest. National Republicans had urged Trump to endorse Cornyn to stabilize the primary; Trump instead told reporters he “supports all three” candidates and hasn’t made up his mind.

The lack of endorsement has already shifted dynamics in the state. Cornyn’s campaign — heavy on experience and electability arguments — had hoped Trump’s backing would blunt Paxton’s base appeal, but the absence of that seal of approval has left Cornyn more vulnerable than expected. At the same time, Hunt, a younger MAGA-aligned candidate, sees opportunity in the vacuum to appeal to Trump-oriented voters.

“It’s now official — the president isn’t endorsing Sen. Cornyn,” one GOP strategist said, calling the development a “serious blow” to the incumbent’s campaign.

Why it matters: Trump usually exercises strong influence in Republican primaries, and his neutrality here is forcing candidates to compete without the usual MAGA litmus test. It also raises questions about internal GOP strategy in a state where Democrats see their best chance to flip a Senate seat in decades.

With no candidate likely to clear 50% on March 3, a runoff is expected in May — and Trump’s eventual endorsement (if it comes at all) could play an even larger role in that head-to-head matchup.

What happens next: The campaign will shift into intense runoff positioning for the top two finishers, and Trump’s next comments on the race will be watched closely by all campaigns.

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