President Trump weighed in on numerous races ahead of Tuesday’s Republican primary in Texas, but his silence in a few key races looms large as Republicans fight to keep their majority in the House and Senate.
An endorsement from Mr. Trump could tip the balance in hotly contested races, and he has given his approval to many candidates running for re-election. Here are some of the candidates Mr. Trump has endorsed — and hesitated to throw his support behind — in the high-stakes Texas primary elections.
U.S. Senate
Three Republican candidates are locked in a fierce battle for a Senate seat in Texas: Senator John Cornyn, the incumbent; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch Trump ally; and Representative Wesley Hunt, one of the first Black Republicans to represent Texas in the House.
Mr. Trump has notably avoided endorsing one of the three candidates.
“They’ve all supported me,” he said earlier this month. “They’re all good, and you’re supposed to pick one, so we’ll see what happens. But I support all three.”
Polls have shown that Mr. Paxton leads Mr. Cornyn but may not have enough votes to avoid a runoff in May. A candidate must win more than 50 percent of the vote to secure the primary.
On Friday, just a few days before the primary, Mr. Trump traveled to Texas where he gave a speech on his energy policies. All three candidates shifted their campaign schedules to attend the speech, hoping for a last-minute endorsement and boasting about their proximity to the president.
Second Congressional District
Representative Dan Crenshaw, a fourth-term Republican and former Navy SEAL, is fending off a challenge from State Representative Steve Toth.
Mr. Trump has not endorsed a candidate in the race, making Mr. Crenshaw the only House Republican in Texas running for re-election without the president’s support.
Mr. Crenshaw has at times broken with the president, condemning the Jan. 6 insurrection and Mr. Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.
Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, endorsed Mr. Toth last week, calling him a champion of “liberty, limited government and constitutional governance.” Mr. Toth is among the most conservative members of the Texas House.
Ninth Congressional District
Alex Mealer, the Republican nominee for Harris County judge in 2022, and State Representative Briscoe Cain are the front-runners in the state’s newly redrawn Ninth Congressional District.
Mr. Trump endorsed Ms. Mealer on Feb. 16, highlighting her military and business background as a graduate of West Point, Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School.
Ahead of the primary, polls showed Ms. Mealer leading Mr. Cain by single digits.
23rd Congressional District
Representative Tony Gonzales is facing a tough re-election fight against Brandon Herrera, a hard-line conservative, YouTuber and gun rights advocate.
Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Gonzales on Feb. 16, highlighting his military service.
Mr. Gonzales has since been embroiled in controversy over allegations that he had coerced a sexual relationship with a staff member who later killed herself. Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called on him to resign.
Mr. Gonzales has refused to step down and has denied the allegations, calling it a smear campaign by Mr. Herrera. A spokeswoman for Mr. Gonzales did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Trump made a flurry of reposts of his Texas primary picks on Truth Social on Friday, but omitted his endorsement of Mr. Gonzales.
Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, had also endorsed Mr. Gonzales for re-election. He said his endorsement came before the accusations surfaced, and that he expected Mr. Gonzales to address the issue.
38th Congressional District
Jon Bonck, a mortgage broker and Baptist deacon, leads a crowded G.O.P. field vying for a seat vacated by Mr. Hunt, who is running for Senate.
Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Bonck on Feb. 16, calling him “a successful business executive” who will support “America First Policies.”
Like many other candidates who have the president’s support, Mr. Bonck has prominently advertised the endorsement. His website features a pop-up video promoting Mr. Trump’s endorsement, and an edited photo of Mr. Trump and Mr. Bonck side-by-side.
A poll by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs showed Mr. Bonck leading the field by 12 points.
Ashley Ahn covers breaking news for The Times from New York.
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