Abbott: Trump Endorsement Will Carry 'Great Weight' in TX Senate Race

Texas governor says Trump's backing will be influential in Republican primary runoff.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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In an interview on Fox News, Texas Governor Greg Abbott discussed the upcoming Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate seat in the state. Abbott said he was unaware of where former President Donald Trump stood on endorsing either the incumbent John Cornyn or challenger Ken Paxton, but noted that Trump's endorsement would carry 'great weight' with Texas Republicans.

Why it matters

The Texas Senate race is expected to be one of the most closely watched and expensive primary battles in the 2026 election cycle. Trump's endorsement could play a pivotal role in determining the Republican nominee, who would then face the Democratic challenger in the general election.

The details

Abbott said that while Trump is trying to 'bring a swift resolution' to the primary, Republicans in Texas would also like to resolve the race themselves. The governor acknowledged that Trump is the 'most popular Republican' in the state, so his endorsement would be highly influential.

  • The Texas Republican primary runoff election is scheduled for May 2026.

The players

Greg Abbott

The current Republican governor of Texas.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States and a prominent figure in the Republican Party.

John Cornyn

The incumbent Republican U.S. Senator from Texas.

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General and a challenger to Cornyn in the Republican primary.

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What they’re saying

“You know, it's a good question, Sean, that obviously I have no clear answer to. I think what the president is trying to achieve is for one try to bring a swift resolution to the primaries in the state of Texas so that Republicans can focus on primaries in other parts of the country. But also, I think that Republicans in the state of Texas would like to resolve it themselves.”

— Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas (Fox News)

“So, we'll have to wait and see what happens. And if he makes an endorsement, obviously, he's the most popular Republican in the state of Texas. So, his endorsement will carry great weight.”

— Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas (Fox News)

What’s next

The Texas Republican primary runoff election is scheduled for May 2026, and Trump's endorsement in the race is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Trump's endorsement in the Texas Senate Republican primary could have a significant impact on the outcome, as the former president remains highly influential within the state's GOP. The race is shaping up to be a key battleground in the 2026 election cycle.