Trump’s Endorsement Strategy
President Trump has publicly supported 19 out of the 22 Senate Republicans seeking reelection in 2026, notably withholding his endorsement from three incumbents: Senators Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
The president intensified his opposition to Cassidy by endorsing a potential primary challenger, Representative Julia Letlow, over the weekend.
In a social media announcement, Trump hailed Letlow as a “highly respected” congresswoman and a “great star,” encouraging her with the message “Run, Julia, run!!!” He described her as a “total winner” who has proven herself under challenging circumstances and would effectively represent Louisiana in the Senate. Although Letlow has not officially declared her candidacy, she expressed gratitude for Trump’s endorsement and emphasized that the Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana.
Despite Trump’s lack of support, Cassidy remains optimistic about his reelection campaign as a principled conservative. He believes he can secure victory even if Letlow enters the race. The senator is working to mend his relationship with Trump after voting to convict him during impeachment proceedings related to the January 6 Capitol riot—one of seven Republican senators who did so.
Collins is up for reelection this year in Maine, where Trump’s nonendorsement might actually work in her favor. The president recently criticized her for opposing military action against Venezuela without congressional approval and suggested she should not be reelected. However, he has yet to endorse any of her Republican primary challengers.
Cornyn faces a competitive primary in Texas on March 3. Recent polling indicates a close three-way race among Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at 27%, Cornyn at 26%, and Representative Wesley Hunt at 16%, with nearly one-third of voters undecided. Analysts anticipate a likely runoff in May since neither Paxton nor Cornyn seems poised to achieve the necessary majority.
Senate Republican leaders are urging Trump to back Cornyn, arguing he stands the best chance in the general election. Current polling suggests both Cornyn and Hunt have slight leads over Democratic opponents while Paxton is struggling in direct matchups. Despite never voting for Trump’s impeachment conviction, Cornyn faced criticism from him after January 6 and initially called for exploring alternative candidates for the 2024 presidential election.
