John Cornyn’s defeat raises a new question: Will he join the Senate Republicans rebelling against Trump? | CNN Politics

Sen. John Cornyn’s landslide defeat immediately raises a pressing question for his GOP colleagues: Will he join the ranks of other Republicans recently vanquished by President Donald Trump and begin bucking the president more? Cornyn suggested prior to Tuesday’s loss that he will continue to be a team player, but that has not stopped Republicans from speculating about whether he will go the way of Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Tillis abandoned his reelection campaign last year after Trump threatened to back a primary challenger, while Cassidy lost reelection earlier this month after Trump endorsed against him. Both have since become more outspoken against Trump, complicating his legislative agenda. While Trump took a victory lap after defeating Cassidy, celebrating the end of his Senate career, the president struck a more conciliatory tone in response to Cornyn’s loss. “Congratulations to Ken Paxton on such a tremendous win, and to John Cornyn for having run a strong and powerful race but, more importantly, having had a truly great career,” Trump wrote Wednesday morning in a social media post. “John will remain my friend for a long t