DALLAS — American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp confirmed that Sen. John Cornyn of Texas has been invited to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
“Yes, he is invited,” Mr. Schlapp, who endorsed Mr. Cornyn’s Senate primary opponent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, told The Washington Times.
“If he says ’yes,’ we will let him talk and make his case. Our view is if he wants to speak for MAGA and conservatives, he needs to come to CPAC in Texas,” Mr. Schlapp said.
However, Mr. Cornyn, the GOP incumbent entangled in a nasty Texas Senate runoff primary against Mr. Paxton, has yet to agree to speak at the annual conservative confab.
CPAC will include a Cornyn vs. Paxton race as a specific question in its annual straw poll.
The Washington Times reached out to Mr. Cornyn’s campaign for comment.
Mr. Paxton is scheduled to deliver remarks at the annual gathering of right-wing activists this week at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, and there is speculation that Mr. Cornyn’s campaign does not want the Texas senator to attend CPAC for fear he may not be welcomed by attendees.
President Trump has said he planned to endorse one of the candidates and encourage the other to drop out in response, to save party energy and funds.
But last Tuesday was the final chance for either man to withdraw from the ballot and satisfy the GOP’s hope of avoiding over two months of bitter and costly campaigning.
Mr. Cornyn’s campaign launched a new ad campaign pounding Mr. Paxton, and a pro-Paxton super PAC released an ad that was broadcast not in Texas but in the West Palm Beach media market while Mr. Trump was in Florida.
Mr. Cornyn finished ahead of Mr. Paxton in the March 3 primary, although he did not capture the majority necessary to win the nomination then.
The runoff election day is May 26. Early voting starts May 18.
