More than a month after promising to intervene, President Donald Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in Texas' high-stakes Republican Senate runoff, deepening the divide between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Texas Tribune reported on Tuesday.
Following the March primary, Trump said he would soon back a candidate and push the other to exit, writing on Truth Social that the race "cannot, for the good of the Party ... be allowed to go on any longer."
The president added that he would "be making my Endorsement soon, and ... ask the candidate that I don't Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE."
But Trump allowed the withdrawal deadline to pass without acting, and both candidates have refused to drop out, setting up a costly and increasingly combative May 26 runoff.
His posture has since shifted.
While initially emphasizing party unity, Trump later downplayed the Democrat nominee, writing that "any human being running against him ... would win," signaling less urgency about resolving the GOP contest quickly.
Analysts say the lack of endorsement has prolonged and intensified the fight. "Trump not endorsing at this point has had an impact," said Republican consultant John Wittman to the outlet.
"And so the reality is that this is still a very close race. Paxton is probably the favorite right now, but this is absolutely a winnable race for John Cornyn."
The runoff underscores a broader divide within the Texas GOP. Cornyn, backed by party leadership and major donors, represents the establishment wing, while Paxton has aligned himself with MAGA activists and grassroots conservatives, who tend to dominate lower-turnout runoff elections.
Early polling shows a tight race, with Paxton holding a narrow edge in some surveys, while outside spending, which topped $100 million in the primary, is expected to rise again in the final weeks.
Trump's neutrality has also left major donors without a clear signal, keeping fundraising and outside group activity central to the contest.
The prolonged Republican battle is also creating a potential opening for Democrat nominee James Talarico.
While Republicans have begun attacking him, Trump's suggestion that the Democrat is easily beatable undercuts arguments from Cornyn allies that Paxton would be a riskier general election candidate.
Some Republicans warn the bruising runoff could weaken the eventual nominee and energize Democratic turnout in November, raising the stakes of the intraparty split.
At CPAC, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told the Washington Examiner, "I have concerns about the general election."
"Regardless of who wins the nomination, the two candidates have attacked each other relentlessly, and the hard left is really energized," he added.