Texas Senator John Cornyn has introduced a bill to rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47, in honor of Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States. The proposal seeks to upgrade the 1,791-mile road that runs from Choteau, Montana, to Port Arthur, Texas. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis has signed on as a co-sponsor.
In a social media post about the bill, Cornyn wrote, “I am proud to introduce legislation to rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47 in honor of our 47th President.” According to The Hill, he added, “Texas is Trump Country & this bill cements @POTUS’ legacy by designating nearly 1,800 miles of open road to forever be known as the Trump interstate.”
The bill also has a practical side. A 2025 study from the Texas Department of Transportation found that upgrading the route to a full interstate could cut travel times by 7.37 percent and generate $5.4 billion in total savings by 2050.
Cornyn is betting on a highway to win Trump’s endorsement before the May 26 runoff
The timing of the bill is hard to ignore. Cornyn is in a tight runoff race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, with the election set for May 26. Neither candidate won a majority in the March GOP primary. A recent poll from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs showed Paxton leading by just 3 percentage points. The runoff winner will face state Representative James Talarico in the November general election.
Trump has not endorsed either candidate yet, though he has hinted that one is coming. After the March primary, Trump posted on Truth Social that the split between the two candidates “MUST STOP NOW!” He added, “Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT!”
He also warned that he would ask whoever he does not endorse to immediately drop out of the race. Trump has also been making bold moves on the global stage, and his handling of U.S. nuclear strategy in the Middle East has drawn significant attention in recent weeks.
I am proud to introduce legislation to rename US Highway 287 as Interstate 47 in honor of our 47th President @realDonaldTrump.
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) May 12, 2026
My bill will upgrade one of our nation’s longest highways to a future interstate and save more than $5 BILLION in travel costs, all while honoring the… https://t.co/Ua8lxoZUeN
The two candidates have been running aggressive ads against each other. Paxton has called Cornyn “anti-Trump,” pointing to his change in position on the Senate filibuster. Cornyn has hit back by labeling Paxton “Crooked Ken” and running ads that bring up the attorney general’s personal life.
Trump has been very active in 2026 Republican primaries. According to Ballotpedia, he has endorsed 286 candidates nationwide, including 19 out of 33 Senate primaries. Beyond domestic politics, Trump has also been pursuing his plans to expand U.S. territory to Venezuela, signaling an ambitious foreign policy agenda. Still, he has stayed silent on the Texas race, even after visiting Corpus Christi during the initial primary period.
Rice University professor Mark P. Jones has noted that Trump’s endorsement is often the deciding factor in these races. Early voting begins May 18, and both candidates will likely keep pushing hard until votes are cast on May 26. For now, Cornyn is clearly hoping that putting Trump’s name on nearly 1,800 miles of highway will be enough to earn that crucial nod.
