Trump is holding key endorsement hostage as GOP primary heats up: report

President Donald Trump is delaying a pivotal endorsement in the Texas Republican Senate primary as he seeks to pressure GOP lawmakers to pass his high-priority voting restrictions legislation, according to a new report in Politico.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and MAGA firebrand Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general, are both vying for Trump’s backing in the race – especially after last week’s razor-thin primary election results propelled them into a runoff.

Trump had been prepared to quickly endorse Cornyn after the Lone Star State’s senior senator finished ahead of Paxton, Politico reported Monday, citing two people close to the White House. But the calculus changed, and Paxton was able to buy more time after announcing he would drop out of the race only if the Senate passes Trump’s voting restrictions measure known as the SAVE America Act.

“Paxton’s last-ditch gamble highlighted an area where he agrees with Trump while poking at a sore spot between the president and Senate Republican leaders who have been begging Trump for months to back Cornyn,” Politico said. “And it changed the dynamics inside the White House, according to the two people, an operative close to the White House and an administration ally.”

Trump has described the SAVE America Act as his “No.1 priority” on Congress’s agenda this year, the outlet pointed out.

“I think that was a very smart strategy because it bought time,” the Republican operative told Politico. “Because now, if you’re the White House or Trump, why would you now weigh in?’’ Trump has remained very steadfast that he wants this done, and that is a huge priority, and he’s getting pissed off at these members and at [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune.”

The eventual Republican nominee will face off against Democratic candidate James Talarico, a Texas state representative and Presbyterian minister, in the November election after he defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in last week’s primary.