Trump Heads To Texas As GOP Senate Hopefuls Vie For His Endorsement
President Donald Trump is traveling to Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday to spotlight his administration’s energy agenda just days before a closely contested Republican Senate primary in the Lone Star State.
The trip comes as Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt compete for the GOP nomination. All three candidates are expected to attend the president’s event. Trump has so far declined to endorse a candidate, saying earlier this month that he supports “all three.”
When asked whether the president would issue a formal endorsement during the visit, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump “looks forward to returning to the great State of Texas this week to discuss the economy and tout his ‘Drill Baby Drill’ agenda.”
The Republican primary is set for Tuesday. If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff will be held May 26. The eventual GOP nominee will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Sen. James Talarico.
Recent polling has shown Paxton with an edge, though analysts note that a runoff could significantly alter the race’s dynamics depending on which two candidates advance. Paxton has received backing from Turning Point Action, while Cornyn has the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Each Republican contender has emphasized alignment with Trump’s policies as Election Day approaches. NRSC Communications Director Joanna Rodriguez said that “no one has worked harder than John Cornyn and President Trump to reinvigorate our economy and lower costs for families, workers, and small businesses.” The Hunt campaign similarly praised Trump’s return to Texas, saying the congressman has “stood with President Trump from the very beginning.”
Trump’s visit also follows a move by Energy Secretary Chris Wright to approve expanded exports of American natural gas from a major facility in Corpus Christi, underscoring the administration’s focus on boosting domestic energy production and global supply.
With the primary just days away and no endorsement yet issued, Trump’s appearance in Texas adds another layer of anticipation to an already high-stakes Republican contest.