Trump’s self-professed “very fine brain” never concerned itself much with details. The same is true of almost everyone who works for him. But with everything going on in Trump World there are a lot of running chain saws they’re juggling. The one person who might have managed to pay attention to Texas, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles just found out she has breast cancer! Despite my political differences with her I lost both parents to cancer so I mean it when I wish for her to beat it. The point is that most people would be forgiving for her not catching that critical deadline in the Texas Senate runoff. Now, even if one candidate drops out in the meantime both Paxton’s and Cornyn’s name will be on the ballot. OOPS!!
If you’ve been following this race the GOP primary was already nasty and a ton of money was spent. It only promised to get nastier and more expensive before the May runoff election, sucking up resources the GOP needs elsewhere. The GOP establishment both in Texas and DC/Nationally begged Trump to endorse Cornyn. MAGAs, both in Texas and nationally will be unforgiving if Trump doesn’t endorse Paxton. I’ve written that Trump really, really wants Paxton but even before Democrat James Talarico quickly consolidated support it seemed evident that GOP jackassery to interfere and get Crockett the nomination wouldn’t work. That meant what I’ve already said – the the GOP will have to invest HUGE to hold the seat.
Remember, Trump had said he’d make an endorsement and expected the other guy to drop out. Paxton said he’d trash the filibuster but if Cornyn would promise to help end it he’d drop out. I say no way in hell – he was in it all the way and had full MAGA support. So whether to get some attention for himself, or just to torture Cornyn and Paxton for fun Trump dithered for a while. Word was he was going to back Cornyn, fearing Paxton could actually lose to Talirico. Still, he had to know MAGAs who are already restless and increasingly unhappy with them would blow a gasket.
Then Trump started his stupid war and got totally distracted. There’s no telling what else has fallen through the cracks but this is rather large object to lose track of. And, as CNN reports it’s now too late to have only one name on the ballot when Texans make their choice:
President Donald Trump promised his endorsement was forthcoming in the GOP Texas Senate runoff and said he wanted whoever he didn’t pick to drop out. But now — preoccupied with the Iran war and a doomed voting bill — he’s missed a critical deadline.
The decision hasn’t been on the president’s mind for days, White House officials told CNN Tuesday afternoon, noting that he was preoccupied by the war with Iran. Now, the deadline for either candidate to withdraw their name from the ballot has passed.
That means that the names of both incumbent Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will be listed on the ballot in the May 26 runoff, something many Senate Republican leaders — and even Trump himself — acknowledged they did not want.
White House officials say Trump may still choose to endorse in the race. Either candidate could still unofficially withdraw from the runoff, despite the deadline, but his name would still appear on the ballot.
Trump’s endorsement will in my humble opinion be watered down. Worse, if he goes with Cornyn it might energize MAGAs to show up and vote for THEIR guy as a protest. Don’t think for one second Paxton isn’t scheming how to ‘campaign without looking like he’s campaigning.’ He WANTS that Senate seat because he knows his act has worn thin down there. Not with MAGAs but the state Republican Party and even Gov. Abbott.
So now Trump has a whole new mess to deal with and what should have been a Senate win (albeit a close one) after much investment of money and time needed elsewhere. Worse for Trump it puts us closer to the top of the steep mountain of retaking the Senate. Texas flipping blue would be a body blow. Deep down inside Trump knows the House will be in Democratic hands this time next year. The Senate was always going to be a tough fight for us to win but we are looking at two likely flips already. Ohio isn’t being talked about but plenty of voters there regret voting out Sherrod Brown and for him flipping that state blue, at least for a Senate seat is there.
With Texas flipping Trump would be toast. He can forget about getting unqualified wack- jobs confirmed whether it’s judges/Justices or just regular government jobs. And courts have already lost patience with his attempts to work around the Vacancies Act. Also, if both chambers are sending criminal referrals to DOJ Bondi will be screwed. Lawyers HATE disciplining other lawyers but sometimes something is so high profile they have no choice. Bondi (or if Trump dumps her between now and then) or some other Trump Toady can either keep their law license (and perhaps even freedom) or face Trump’s wrath and ETTD.
I for one love that Trump has put the Democratic Party within reach of the political equivalent of reaching the summit of Everest this November. All because he’s the type of ‘executive’ who, despite bragging about having cognitive tests and that very fine brain can’t be bothered with details. He could have and should have settled this weeks ago and gotten going on tamping down MAGA anger for endorsing Cornyn. But he BLEW it. Let’s hope it’s the nail that wind up sealing the coffin on GOP control of the Senate.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
