New Year, New Senate Race

Raj Bishnoi, TX - Guest Writer

United States Capitol Building. Photo Credit: Talan Maskivish.

In 2020, John Cornyn won the Texas Republican primary with 76% of the vote. In 2026, however, a very different kind of primary seems in store for the candidate. A three-way race between candidates John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Wesley Hunt is taking place to determine which Texan will best represent the views of the Texas Republican Party and Texas as a whole.

John Cornyn, the current incumbent, has served Texas in the Senate since 2002. Cornyn has been described by many as a classic conservative, as he has supported NAFTA, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, secure borders, and U.S foreign relations in places such as Ukraine and Israel in the past. In 2020, the Texas Observer described Cornyn’s close relationship with President Trump as a “ride or die,” as Cornyn helped defend Trump throughout the first Trump Administration.

However, some within the Republican Party have grown tired of the seasoned senator, primarily Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton has accused the incumbent Cornyn of being a RINO and not standing enough with Donald Trump, specifically on 2nd Amendment issues. Paxton has had a controversial career, having been impeached by the Republican dominated Texas House of Representatives over corruption charges in 2023 before being acquitted. Despite the charges laid against him, Paxton remains the favorite in most polls for the Republican nomination.

However, Ken Paxton’s focus on MAGA principles is no guarantee of victory. Wesley Hunt, a former U.S Army Captain who served in Iraq and is a current Representative, has tossed his hat into the Senate race. Hunt has offered himself as the MAGA alternative, setting up the battle between Cornyn and Paxton as a “petty feud.” Hunt is in a unique position to appeal to those opposed to Paxton due to his legal issues, but who wish to support him on his MAGA stance, as well as to those looking for a breath of fresh air in the Senate.

President Donald Trump has been reluctant to involve himself in the current Texas Senate race. According to a report done by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University, Trump’s endorsement could sway the vote of around 50% of primary voters. With Trump holding out on an endorsement until the near future, the race comes down to policy and candidates’ commitment to conservative principles.

Overall, this primary to determine the Republican candidate for the 2026 Senate election could have national impacts as the G.O.P tries to hold onto its majority in both houses of the legislature. Every endorsement made or word said could cost any of these 3 candidates the chance to represent Texas or provide valuable support to the Trump administration at a time when Democrats look to Texas to win themselves the Senate.