Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other establishment Republicans are lobbying President Trump to endorse Senator John Cornyn over Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
According to a report from CNN, Republican leaders are becoming “anxious” about the prospect of Paxton launching a successful primary challenge against Cornyn.
Cornyn has long been unpopular within MAGA circles for his closeness to former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and opposition to parts of Trump’s policia agenda.
The report explains:
Republicans are growing anxious about an emerging Texas primary engulfing one of their longest-serving senators, fearful that a hugely expensive intraparty feud will have major ramifications across the map in next year’s midterms. And they want President Donald Trump to stop it.
Behind the scenes, Senate GOP leaders have personally asked Trump to back Sen. John Cornyn, who has occupied his seat for more than two decades and narrowly lost his bid to become Senate majority leader last fall.
All that has added up to one overriding fear: that a Texas Senate GOP primary could end up costing their party at least $100 million, siphoning money from other critical battlegrounds, according to several Senate GOP sources.
Plus, they worry that a wounded GOP nominee could end up giving Democrats a chance in what would otherwise be a long-shot pickup opportunity as former Rep. Colin Allred weighs another Senate run.
Thune, meanwhile, is making no secret of the fact he plans to rally behind Cornyn.
“I’m hoping that in the end, he can,” Thune said when asked about the prospect of Trump endorsing Cornyn.
“Obviously we’re supporting Sen. Cornyn. He’s done a great job for Texas and for the country. And we need him back.”
A recent poll found that Paxton is leading Cornyn by 53 percent to 28 percent in a hypothetical match-up, with the gap widening further in the case of an informed ballot.
POLL: Texas AG Ken Paxton Would Crush RINO Senator John Cornyn in GOP Primary
The two men shared a deep hatred for one another after Cornyn backed efforts by Democrats and establishment Republicans to impeach Paxton over trumped-up securities fraud charges.
Paxton has not yet confirmed his candidacy, although his public statements indicate he has every intention of running.
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event last December, Paxton was asked by a member of the audience whether he would throw his hat in the ring.
“How about if I say this? Not yet,” he answered. “I am praying about it. We are looking at that.”
The post Senate Leader John Thune and Establishment Republicans Are Lobbying President Trump to Endorse RINO Senator John Cornyn Over MAGA Favorite Ken Paxton in Texas appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.