AUSTIN, Texas — With the November midterm election approaching, President Trump has endorsed 36 Texas Republicans, putting his stamp on many of the state’s biggest races while leaving several GOP candidates without his backing.
Trump posted his endorsements on Truth Social on Wednesday, backing 36 of 46 statewide races. The list includes Ken Paxton for U.S. senator and Greg Abbott for governor, along with endorsements in 30 other Texas congressional districts.
But 10 races were not included in Trump’s list, including the Texas Railroad Commissioner race. Republican candidate Bo French has continued to promote the Republican ticket, including with a post on X on Thursday.
In Austin, some voters said Trump’s endorsement list influenced how they view the candidates who made it — and those who did not.
“That means all those people, I’m definitely not voting for those people,” Austinite Evan Winn said.
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Austinite Oscar Newman said, “I think it speaks volumes when the head of the party doesn’t endorse his own candidates.”
Democratic candidate Jon Rosenthal also weighed in on French not receiving an endorsement, posting on X: “Even Donald Trump knows Bo is unfit to lead.”
French has drawn attention in the Railroad Commissioner race after making a racially charged social media post demeaning South Asian students celebrating after Texas’s comeback win against Ohio State.
Brian Smith, a political science professor at St. Edward’s University, said the post could have cost French Trump’s endorsement.
CBS Austin’s Vinny Martorano asked how the lack of an endorsement could affect French’s chances. Smith said, “Well, if Bo French loses, he only has himself to blame…He’s going to have to figure out, Bo French, that is, how am I going to win the race without Donald Trump.”
Smith said some Texas Republicans would have liked to have Trump’s support in late October, but that French “dug his own grave,” leaving him and other unendorsed GOP candidates heading into November without Trump’s backing.
Meanwhile, a Texas Railroad Commissioner debate that was supposed to be held in Dallas was canceled after French said he never agreed to take part. The Dallas Press Club said its organizer had notes indicating both candidates were available, but that French did not respond to later attempts to confirm.