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President Trump has endorsed 19 of the 22 Senate Republicans running for reelection in 2026, conspicuously withholding support from three incumbents who have opposed him: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
The president escalated his stance against Cassidy by endorsing a potential primary challenger, Rep. Julia Letlow, over the weekend.
In a social media post, Trump praised Letlow as a “highly respected” congresswoman and “great star,” urging her to run with the enthusiastic message “Run, Julia, run!!!” He highlighted her as “a total winner” who has been “tested at the highest and most difficult levels” and would continue delivering for Louisiana in the Senate. While Letlow has not formally announced a campaign, she responded by saying she is “honored to have President Trump’s endorsement and trust” and declared that “this United States Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana.”
Cassidy, undeterred by the presidential snub, responded confidently that he is “proudly running for reelection as a principled conservative” and expressed certainty he would win if Letlow enters the race. The senator has attempted to repair his relationship with Trump after voting in 2021 to convict him on impeachment charges related to the January 6 Capitol riot. He was one of seven Senate Republicans to do so, including Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who survived a 2022 reelection despite Trump’s opposition.
Collins faces reelection this year in the swing state of Maine, where Trump’s nonendorsement could actually benefit her politically. The president recently criticized her for voting to block further military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, stating she should “never be reelected.” However, Trump has not endorsed either of her Republican primary challengers.
The most precarious situation may be Cornyn’s contested primary in deep-red Texas on March 3. Recent polling from Emerson College/Nexstar shows a tight three-way race, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton leading at 27%, Cornyn at 26%, and Rep. Wesley Hunt at 16%, with 29% undecided. Analysts predict a likely runoff in May, as neither Paxton nor Cornyn appears positioned to reach the 50% threshold needed to avoid one.
Senate Republican leaders have urged Trump to endorse Cornyn, arguing he has the best chance in the general election. Polling shows Cornyn and Hunt both hold 3-5 point advantages over Democratic contenders, while Paxton is deadlocked in head-to-head matchups. Despite never voting to convict Trump on impeachment, Cornyn was critical of him after January 6 and initially urged the party to consider alternative 2024 presidential candidates.
Read more: Trump’s non-endorsements in Senate races reflect long-held grievances
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