By Charlie McCarthy | Monday, 18 May 2026 03:36 PM EDT
President Donald Trump on Monday issued endorsements in many Republican primary races, though the key Texas U.S. Senate race was not among them.
In a lengthy series of Truth Social posts, Trump backed dozens of Republican candidates across Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Georgia, Idaho, Alabama, and Oregon ahead of Tuesday’s primaries, continuing his dominant role as the GOP’s chief political kingmaker.
The president endorsed several longtime congressional allies, including Pennsylvania Reps. Mike Kelly, Scott Perry, Dan Meuser, Glenn “GT” Thompson, and Guy Reschenthaler, praising them for supporting his America First agenda on taxes, border security, energy production, and the Second Amendment.
Trump also formally endorsed Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity for governor, calling the retired Army Reserve colonel “a true America First Patriot” who would “grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations,” and “safeguard our elections.”
In Kentucky, Trump escalated his attacks on Rep. Thomas Massie, calling the congressman a “weak and pathetic RINO”—short for Republican in name only—while endorsing former Navy SEAL and Army Ranger Ed Gallrein in the state’s 4th Congressional District primary.
“The Great People of Kentucky are wise to Massie,” Trump wrote. “He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left.”
Trump also endorsed Rep. Andy Barr for Kentucky’s open U.S. Senate seat, praising Barr as a “100% solid American Patriot” and highlighting his support for eliminating the Senate filibuster to advance Republican priorities such as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE America Act.
The president’s endorsement strategy has become one of the most powerful forces in Republican politics, with only a handful suffering defeats so far this cycle.
Still, Trump has notably withheld an endorsement in one closely watched GOP race: the Texas Senate runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Trump told reporters earlier this month he would make a decision “maybe relatively soon” regarding the race, but as of Monday had still not weighed in publicly.
The runoff has exposed divisions within the Republican Party between establishment-aligned conservatives backing Cornyn and MAGA activists rallying behind Paxton.
Trump previously praised both men, calling Cornyn “a great senator” and Paxton “a great attorney general.”
Political analysts say Trump’s endorsement could ultimately determine the outcome.
Of the more than 100 Trump-endorsed candidates who have already appeared on ballots this year, only six have lost.
Meanwhile, both Texas candidates continue publicly courting Trump’s support.
Paxton recently emphasized his willingness to back Trump’s SAVE America Act and broader election integrity agenda, while Cornyn argued Trump may be reluctant to alienate supporters of either candidate.
“I think he doesn’t want to disappoint his supporters,” Cornyn said.
Charlie McCarthy is a writer/editor with nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
