(C) MS Now
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued a stern ultimatum on Wednesday to Republican senatorial candidates in Texas, demanding that the contender who fails to receive his upcoming endorsement withdraw immediately to avoid a divisive runoff.
Following the Super Tuesday primary results on March 4 (local time), the Texas GOP senatorial race is headed for a secondary showdown. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn secured 41.9% of the vote, followed closely by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at 40.7%. Congressman Wesley Hunt trailed with 13.5%. As no candidate surpassed the 50% threshold, a runoff between Cornyn and Paxton is scheduled for late May.
"The Endorsement is Overwhelming"
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his impatience. "I will be announcing my endorsement soon," Trump wrote. "I will request that the candidate I do not endorse immediately withdraw from the race. Is that fair? We must win in November."
He emphasized his track record in the Lone Star State, noting his victories in three consecutive presidential cycles. "For the sake of the Party and the Country, this Republican Primary should not go any further. It must stop now," he added, claiming his endorsement is "virtually impossible to overcome."
Democrats Gain Momentum in GOP Stronghold
Trump’s sudden intervention appears fueled by a sense of crisis. While Republicans are locked in an internal struggle, the Democratic Party has already unified behind Congressman James Talarico, who defeated Jasmine Crockett with 52.4% of the vote to secure the nomination.
The urgency is further heightened by a stinging defeat last month. In a state senate special election, a Democratic candidate trounced a Trump-backed Republican by 14 points—in a district Trump had carried by 17 points during the 2024 presidential election.
Focusing on the "Radical Left"
"We have a Radical Left opponent who can be easily beaten, and we must be totally focused on defeating him swiftly and decisively," Trump asserted. Political analysts suggest that Trump fears a prolonged civil war between the establishment (Cornyn) and the hard-right (Paxton) could bleed resources and hand a historic victory to the Democrats in November.
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