President Donald Trump on Saturday stopped short of endorsing a candidate in the Republican Senate primary in Texas, as state Attorney General Ken Paxton is set to challenge incumbent Sen. John Cornyn next year.
“They’re both good friends of mine, and … we don’t know who else is running. But these two, Ken, John, they’re both friends of mine, so I’ll make a determination at the right time,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to Miami for a UFC fight.
CNN previously reported that Senate Republicans, who think a Trump endorsement can help clear the field, have personally asked the president to back Cornyn.
Paxton, a hardline conservative and close Trump ally, announced his run Tuesday.
Cornyn, who has announced he’s running for a fifth term, told CNN last week that he is “prepared” for a primary fight.
The GOP field could get larger as Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt has privately signaled that he is considering joining the race.
