The three leading candidates in the competitive Texas Senate Republican primary have been invited to join President Trump during his Friday visit to Corpus Christi — just days before the state’s Tuesday primary election.
While the trip is officially focused on policy, the president’s appearance comes as the high-profile Senate race remains unsettled and closely watched. Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate in the contest, despite mounting pressure from allies and candidates seeking his backing.
Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) were all invited to attend the event, a White House official confirmed to The Hill, as they compete for the GOP nomination.
Recent polling shows a tight race. Decision Desk HQ’s latest polling aggregate has Paxton leading with roughly 39 percent support, followed by Cornyn at 34 percent and Hunt at 17 percent. However, no candidate currently appears positioned to secure the majority needed to avoid a May runoff, raising the stakes of any potential late endorsement.
Trump has so far resisted taking sides in the primary. Earlier this month, he told reporters he was taking a “serious look” at endorsing in the race, but later added that he likes “all three of them, actually.” His comments signaled continued deliberation rather than a firm commitment.
Political observers remain uncertain whether Trump will issue an endorsement before Tuesday’s primary, wait for a possible runoff, or continue to stay neutral. In past cycles, Trump has sometimes delayed endorsements in crowded primaries, particularly when multiple candidates are aligned with his agenda.
Friday’s stop in Texas marks Trump’s first public event since delivering his State of the Union address on Tuesday. According to the White House, the visit will center on energy and economic policy.
“President Trump looks forward to returning to the great State of Texas this week to discuss the economy and tout his ‘Drill Baby Drill’ agenda,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to The Hill.
