The trio of candidates vying to replace Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) has, at least so far, not sought their endorsements, the outgoing senators told the Washington Examiner.
The moves, or lack thereof, from the possible successors offer windows into GOP campaign strategies and lingering party tensions after contentious home state primaries.
The absence of endorsements from Cornyn and Cassidy could be expected. They lost bitter contests to Trump-backed opponents, and there’s no indication that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton or Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) would be interested in support from the men they unseated.
Tillis is another story.
The second-term lawmaker declined reelection amid public disagreement with President Donald Trump and threats of a Trump-backed primary challenger. Unlike Cornyn and Cassidy, Tillis is openly supportive of his state’s GOP nominee, Michael Whatley, even if he feels the former Republican National Committee chairman should tack toward the center to appeal to swing voters in a battleground state against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
In interviews with the Washington Examiner this week at the Capitol, Tillis described his endorsement as up for grabs. “I’m happy to endorse him,” Tillis said. But Whatley hasn’t sought his aid.
“If I can help, I will help. All they have to do is call on me,” Tillis said, noting that Whatley has not reached out to him. “It’s however I can be helpful. I’m here to get more red jerseys on the field.”
The Whatley campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
North Carolina is one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. Polling and nonpartisan election forecasters give Democrats an edge in flipping it. Tillis, a centrist among his Senate GOP colleagues, sees that as an accurate assessment. Cooper has won statewide elections six times between state attorney general and governor. Roughly 40% of registered North Carolina voters are unaffiliated, a data point Tillis sees as evidence that Whatley needs a post-primary shift toward the center.
“You don’t win the state of North Carolina if you get 100% of all Republicans, and obviously, 100% of all registered Republicans don’t vote,” Tillis said. “Michael’s got to get to that center-right, which is a sweet spot for Republicans in statewide elections. He’s got some work to do.”
President Donald Trump watches while Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley speaks to the troops in Fort Bragg, N.C., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Ramey)
” data-large-file=”https://conservativenewsbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/trump-backed-republicans-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators.webp” src=”https://conservativenewsbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/trump-backed-republicans-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators.webp” alt=”President Donald Trump watches while Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley speaks to the troops in Fort Bragg, N.C., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026″ class=”wp-image-4648577″ srcset=”https://conservativenewsbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/trump-backed-republicans-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators-1.webp 1024w, https://conservativenewsbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/trump-backed-republicans-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators-1.webp?resize=300,200 300w, https://conservativenewsbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/trump-backed-republicans-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators-1.webp?resize=768,512 768w, https://conservativenewsbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/trump-backed-republicans-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators-1.webp?resize=150,100 150w, https://conservativenewsbriefing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/trump-backed-republicans-arent-courting-endorsements-of-outgoing-senators-1.webp?resize=696,464 696w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Unlike Tillis, Cornyn and Cassidy have shown no desire to lend a helping hand to those who are sending them packing from Congress.
Cornyn confirmed Tuesday that Paxton has not sought his endorsement in what is also a battleground seat that Democrats are spending big to try to flip. He previously told the Washington Examiner he would not campaign for Paxton against Democratic nominee James Talarico but would still vote for the GOP nominee. Cornyn has also suggested he’ll snub a midterm GOP convention in September in Texas that will essentially offer a pep rally for Paxton.
Cassidy told the Washington Examiner Tuesday he expects Letlow to “win handily” in what is a safe Republican race.
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“She’s not talked to me, but I don’t think she wants my endorsement,” Cassidy said. “We’ve not discussed it at all.”
Neither the Paxton nor Letlow campaigns responded to inquiries.
David Sivak contributed to this report.
