By Joseph Morton and Gromer Jeffers Jr., The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded an end to the Republican Senate primary race in Texas, promising to soon endorse either incumbent Sen. John Cornyn or his challenger Attorney General Ken Paxton.
After being locked in a bitter contest for many months, Cornyn and Paxton now face a May 26 runoff that promises to become an even more expensive and caustic campaign — which Trump said cannot happen.
The race must end for the good of the party and the country, Trump posted on Truth Social.
“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!” Trump said. “Is that fair? We must win in November!!!”
With nearly all of the expected statewide vote counted, Cornyn held a slim lead over Paxton as the two were set for a runoff.
Cornyn has already promised to make the rematch Paxton’s “judgement day” while the attorney general has slammed huge spending by Cornyn and his allies, saying they cannot buy the Senate seat.
The two have spent months bashing one another, pausing at times to direct their fire at a third candidate, Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston, who played spoiler and finished a distant third Tuesday.
With Hunt out of the picture, the contest Cornyn and Paxton could turn especially ugly as more Republican donor money pours in to help Cornyn. A continuation of hostilities could leave the nominee further bruised.
Democrats, meanwhile, have chosen their candidate, state Sen. James Talarico of Austin who defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas in a primary that was dominated by talk about electability.
In his Wednesday post, Trump highlighted his strong Texas support in presidential elections and described his endorsement as “virtually insurmountable” in GOP primaries, especially in Texas.
“We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively!” Trump said.
At the Capitol, Cornyn’s Republican colleagues told reporters Trump should back the incumbent in order to keep the seat in Republican hands.
“He’s the one that can win in November,” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said.
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