Senate Senate Republicans urge Trump to back Cornyn in Texas runoff by Al Weaver - 03/04/26 5:53 PM ET by Al Weaver - 03/04/26 5:53 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) better-than-expected performance in Tuesday’s primary could turn the race on its head as President Trump revealed that he will endorse “soon” in the looming runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). Senate GOP leaders, itching avoid an expensive battle with Democrat James Talarico, are pushing Trump to back the incumbent.  Cornyn, the four-term lawmaker, had trailed in numerous public polls over recent months, but pulled out a major win by topping Paxton in the primary — one that could pay immediate dividends ahead of the runoff as Trump draws closer to putting his thumb on the scale in his favor. Top Republicans have urged the president for much of the past year to endorse Cornyn, who spent tens of millions of dollars since the summer to boost his bid and ding Paxton, only to see their efforts fall flat. The double-shot of Cornyn’s performance and the emergence of Talarico, who GOP operatives worry could topple Paxton, is prompting Republicans to push the president once again to reprise his role as kingmaker.  “He’s positioned to win the runoff, and if the president endorses early, it saves everybody a lot of money and … 10 weeks of a spirited campaign on our side that keeps us from spending time focusing on the Democrats,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters.  “I’ve been making that case [for Cornyn] for a long time, and we’ll make it again,” Thune said, adding that he will do so “more emphatically” given the primary result.  The South Dakota Republican, who secured his role atop the conference by narrowly defeating Cornyn 16 months ago, has been leading the pro-Cornyn push with Trump. He recently told Punchbowl News that “almost every time we talk, we talk Texas.” The two spoke again on Wednesday, one source familiar told The Hill. Asked afterward about a potential endorsement, Thune responded, “You’ll hear when we hear.” Trump, for his part, made his intentions clear on Wednesday, saying that he not only planned to endorse, but to urge the candidate who did not receive his backing to drop out.  “The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas … cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW!” Trump posted on social media. We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!  “Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!” Trump said, adding that his endorsements in the state have been “insurmountable.” “I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair? We must win in November!!!” The comments came while Senate Republicans convened for lunch, with members indicating they were hopeful Cornyn would be the beneficiary. When Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) was asked what he made of the post, he crossed his fingers for good luck and grinned. The former Senate GOP campaign arm chairman also indicated that he planned to lobby the president once again to back Cornyn.  “I hope the president does, and I’ve strongly recommended he does do that,” said Daines, who worked hand-in-glove with Trump on the 2024 Senate efforts that expanded the majority. “Now that the first round of the primary is over, it’s time to take a look at who can make sure we keep the seat in Republican hands — and that’s John Cornyn.”  Paxton has long given wide swaths of the Senate GOP and donor class heartburn given his legally-checkered record as the state’s top cop. He was indicted more than a decade ago on state securities fraud, though the charges were ultimately dismissed. He also survived an impeachment attempt over bribery charges.  Most recently, Angela Paxton, his estranged wife, filed for divorce last year on “biblical grounds” and accused him of adultery — which Cornyn and allies have frequently cited in their case against the AG. Paxton remained popular, however, with MAGA voters, giving him a high floor against the heavy-spending incumbent. But he spent little prior to the primary, limiting his ability to grow beyond that base and allowing Cornyn to dominate the airwaves and edge past him. “Paxton dramatically underperformed. He underperformed the expectations his own team was setting for people. He underperformed what the common wisdom was of what was going to happen. He just un