President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won their Texas primaries on Tuesday, propelling them closer to a rematch in the November presidential election.
Both men easily carried the state, the AP declared shortly after the last polls closed in Texas at 8 p.m. Central Time. Biden faced no viable challengers in the Democratic primary. And Trump defeated his last challenger, Nikki Haley.
Trump’s victory in Texas was not always a foregone conclusion. After the 2022 midterms, Republicans blamed Trump for significant losses, and many prominent state leaders were hesitant to endorse the former president, who also faced mounting legal problems. A November 2022 poll showed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leading Trump.
But Trump actively sought early support from the Texas congressional delegation. Meanwhile, DeSantis failed to live up to expectations and enthusiasm over his candidacy dwindled. As Trump’s nomination appeared increasingly inevitable, state leaders rallied around him; Gov. Greg Abbott offered Trump an endorsement last November during a trip to the Texas-Mexico border.
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