Senate Republicans have begged Trump for months to support Sen. John Cornyn, so the party could avoid an unpleasant and costly runoff.
Trump went out of his way to refuse to endorse. Trump went so far as to come to Texas and invite all the candidates to his event, then not support anyone in the Senate race.
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The Republican primary unfolded as observers predicted. Cornyn and Texas AG Ken Paxton are within two points of each other and headed to a runoff after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote. It was a nightmarish outcome for Trump’s party.
Mark McKinnon, former Texas political operative explain why republicans are panicking:
A real storm is brewing for Texas Democrats. They have a candidate who can appeal to moderates and moderate Republicans. Talarico could be Moses leading the Lone Star Democrats out of the wilderness they have been in for 35 years.
Now, Trump is backtracking and trying to prevent the Senate runoffs with a Bachelor-style reality show in which he will choose one candidate through his support, and the other runoff candidate will drop out.