Trump Weighs Texas Senate Endorsement, Says Both Cornyn and Paxton Are Electable

President Donald Trump told NBC News he is still weighing whether to endorse a candidate in the competitive Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate in Texas, where Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will face off on May 26.

Trump Links Endorsement to the SAVE America Act

In a phone interview, Trump said he expects to decide within a week and tied his endorsement calculus closely to the fate of the SAVE America Act. "A lot has to do with the SAVE America Act. A lot is going to determine — Republicans have to get that passed, because that will secure voting in this country," he said.

Cornyn’s Rule-Change Shift and Paxton’s Push

Both Republican candidates are seeking Trump’s backing. Paxton has urged eliminating the legislative filibuster to allow rapid consideration of the Trump-backed election bill. This week, Cornyn moved away from his long-standing defense of the 60-vote filibuster threshold, saying he would support "whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary" to pass the SAVE America Act. Trump praised Cornyn’s shift but stopped short of naming him the endorsee, saying only, "I very much appreciate that he is" in favor of nixing the filibuster.

Electability and the Democratic Opponent

Trump said he believes both Cornyn and Paxton are electable. When asked whether Paxton’s controversies make him a liability, Trump replied, "No, I think they both win," and called Democratic nominee James Talarico "so weak."

What the SAVE America Act Would Do—and Its Prospects

The SAVE America Act, which passed the House, is slated for consideration in the Senate. It would impose new federal standards on state election procedures, including requiring proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote in person or by mail, among other measures. Senate passage faces steep obstacles: Republicans lack the votes to eliminate the filibuster, and there is no clear path to reach the 60-vote threshold.

Trump also invoked other priorities he has pushed publicly, saying, "In addition to that, it’s no men playing in women’s sports, which is very important. No mail-in voting. You have to have ID for voting, a picture ID for voting." Note: some provisions Trump referenced are his stated priorities and may not all be included in the current text of the SAVE America Act.

The runoff between Cornyn and Paxton on May 26 will determine who carries the Republican banner into the general election for the Texas Senate seat. For Trump, the immediate test is whether Republicans can marshal enough support in the Senate to advance the election bill that he has championed.