President Donald Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he\u2019s still mulling a potential endorsement in the competitive Republican primary for a Senate seat in Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sen. John Cornyn is facing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May 26 runoff after a close contest on the first ballot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll let you know that over the next week or so,\u201d Trump said in a phone interview when asked if he\u2019s going to endorse Cornyn. \u201cI like him. I always liked him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said he thinks he\u2019ll make a decision in the next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lot has to do with the SAVE America Act. A lot is going to determine \u2014 Republicans have to get that passed, because that will secure voting in this country,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both candidates are vying for Trump\u2019s endorsement. Paxton has championed abolition of the legislative filibuster to pass the Trump-backed election bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this week Cornyn abandoned his long-standing support for the Senate filibuster, the 60-vote rule to pass most bills, saying he\u2019ll support \u201cwhatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary\u201d to pass the SAVE America Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI very much appreciate that he is\u201d in favor of nixing the filibuster, Trump said of Cornyn. When asked if Cornyn\u2019s move had won him over, he said, \u201cI don\u2019t know, but we have to get it passed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump also said he\u2019s not convinced Cornyn is the GOP\u2019s best chance to hold the Senate seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve heard that. I don\u2019t know. I mean, I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know that to be a fact,\u201d Trump said. \u201cBut I like him. I\u2019ve always liked him. I like both candidates very much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said he isn\u2019t worried about Paxton being unelectable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I think they both win,\u201d Trump said, while calling Democratic nominee James Talarico \u201cso weak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And he didn\u2019t directly say what would motivate him to endorse one candidate or the other, saying that \u201ca lot\u201d is going to have to do with the SAVE America Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislation, which has passed the House, is coming up for consideration in the Senate next week. It is highly unlikely to pass because Republicans don\u2019t have the votes to get rid of the filibuster, nor do they have a viable path around the 60-vote hurdle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It would overhaul election laws in all 50 states, requiring proof of citizenship for a person to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot whether in person or by mail. It does not include a ban on mail-in voting or other anti-transgender provisions that Trump has recently demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn addition to that, it\u2019s no men playing in women\u2019s sports, which is very important. No mail-in voting. You have to have ID for voting, a picture ID for voting,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n