Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said Friday that he probably won’t get involved in any race wherein an incumbent has drawn a primary challenger, a decision that means he won’t be endorsing the re-election bid of his fellow Texas Republican, Sen. John Cornyn.
Cruz called Cornyn a “friend” and a “good man” but passed on pledging his support for the incumbent.
“I think it is likely that I am going to stay out of incumbent primaries across the country, either supporting incumbents or opposing incumbents,” Cruz said, as quoted by The Washington Post.
Cornyn’s campaign manager said last month that the minority whip is taking the prospect of a primary challenge seriously. Republican Erick Wyatt filed papers in February to challenge Cornyn next year.
Veteran Republicans in the Senate — from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) — have drawn conservative challengers for the 2014 campaign. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has already drawn three challengers.
Cornyn said in a statement provided to the Post that he and Cruz “agree that the only endorsements that matter are those of the Texas voters and I look forward to earning their vote in 2014.”
