As Trump visits Texas, 3 GOP Senate candidates fight for his endorsement
As President Donald Trump travels to Texas on Friday, all three Republican frontrunners in the state's hotly contested GOP Senate primary will be vying for his coveted personal endorsement, something he's held off making so far.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt plan to attend Trump's speech in Corpus Christi, their respective campaigns told ABC News, with some changing campaign arrangements in order to be there.
Just days until the high-stakes primary election on Tuesday, the candidates remain neck-and-neck in the battle for the Republican nomination, with each trying to align himself closely with the president.
The president's visit to the Lone Star state coincides with the final day of early voting, although his remarks are expected to focus on energy and the economy, according to the White House.
"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.
The Republican Senate campaigns did not clarify whether the candidates were invited to the event, and the White House did not comment on invitations or attendees.
For months, Trump has declined to weigh in on the Texas Senate race. Despite endorsing Cornyn in 2020, the president has notably remained on the sidelines this time around, instead expressing his support for all three Republicans.
"I just haven't made a decision on that race yet," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One earlier this month. "I like all three of them. Actually, I like all three. Those are the toughest races. They've all supported me. They're all good, and you're supposed to pick one, so we'll see what happens."
In lieu of a formal endorsement, all three candidates have instead emphasized their closeness with the president and their commitment to furthering his agenda.
With tight polls, and without any one candidate being able to boast about the president's endorsement, the three Republicans have tried to boost their candidacies by resorting to scathing personal attacks.
Cornyn has repeatedly argued that a Paxton primary victory would destroy the Republican Party, calling him the "kiss of death" and saying his nomination would result in an "Election Day massacre."
Paxton has been quick to strike back, repeatedly slamming Cornyn for not supporting Trump enough and criticizing what he called Cornyn's "selfishness and historic unpopularity."
Hunt, too, has railed against Cornyn, though he has been less vocal in his attacks of Paxton -- criticizing him for being a "career politician" but choosing not to pounce on his controversial past.
Whoever clinches the Republican nomination in next week's primary election will later face off against Texas state Rep. James Talarico or Rep. Jasmine Crockett, two Democrats considered to be rising stars in the party.
Although the Texas Senate seat has been been reliably red for decades, the Republican infighting has also centered on determining who is best suited to take on the Democratic ticket.
If no GOP candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two will advance to a runoff, scheduled for May 26.
Despite staying out of the state's most high-profile race, Trump has been tuned in to Texas politics, endorsing almost every incumbent House Republican ahead of next week's primary.
GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, running for his fourth term with Trump's endorsement, also will be attending the president's event Friday, the Abbott campaign confirmed to ABC News. Abbott has not made an endorsement in the Texas Senate race.
