President Donald Trump says he’s not yet ready to take sides in the heated Republican Senate primary unfolding in deep-red Texas.
“I just haven’t made a decision on that race yet,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Monday night as he returned to Washington from Florida. “I like all three of them.”
Trump’s comments came just ahead of the start of early voting in Texas, as Republicans gear up for the March 3 primary. The president was referring to three major contenders: longtime Sen. John Cornyn, who is seeking re-election; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton; and Rep. Wesley Hunt, a two-term congressman, West Point graduate, and former Apache helicopter pilot who represents a solidly Republican Houston-area district.
Paxton and Hunt are challenging Cornyn in what has become one of the most closely watched — and most divisive — GOP primaries in the country.
“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 said.
Cornyn, backed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), has emphasized his record of support for Trump and the America First agenda.
“I get along well with the president. I’ve supported him during his first term, and now in his second term — I think the figure we came up with was 99.3% of the time. So I want the president to be successful and look forward to continuing to support him and his policies,” Cornyn told Fox News Digital late last year.
However, Paxton — a MAGA firebrand and longtime Trump ally — and Hunt, a rising conservative star, have questioned Cornyn’s loyalty and portray him as part of the Republican establishment. Both have labeled him a RINO, shorthand for “Republican in Name Only.”
At the same time, establishment Republicans and the NRSC have warned that a Paxton nomination could complicate the general election. They argue that Democrats may attempt to exploit Paxton’s long-running legal controversies and his ongoing divorce in an effort to flip the seat in November.
Texas is expected to remain a key battleground as Republicans defend their 53-47 Senate majority.
Polling suggests the race remains competitive, with Cornyn and Paxton locked in a close fight while Hunt trails in third.
Trump acknowledged the contest is far from over, noting the nomination battle has “got a ways to go.”
That’s because the race could head to a May 27 runoff unless one candidate clears the 50% threshold in the March primary.
