Criticism of Senator Cornyn’s Re-election Bid

Republican strategist Caroline Wren recently voiced her disapproval of Texas Senator John Cornyn’s campaign for a fifth term during an appearance on Breitbart News Saturday. She criticized his Senate record and previous stances against former President Donald Trump while discussing the Republican primary runoff involving Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle framed Wren as “a woman on a mission to expose Texas Sen. John Cornyn.” He posed questions like, “Why is he seeking re-election? What’s really going on with him?” Wren emphasized that her opposition to Cornyn is personal, stating that being “born and raised in Texas,” she feels he embodies the issues plaguing the U.S. Senate.

Wren contended that Cornyn lacks a proven track record, aside from efforts to limit Second Amendment rights. Moreover, she argued that for the last decade, he has actively criticized everything related to Trump and the “America First” initiative. She pointed out that Cornyn appears on media outlets that often disrespect Trump, embodying a “last of the old Bush guard” mentality in Texas.

Labeling him as an “institutionalist,” Wren claimed that Cornyn believes he enjoys respect from his colleagues and the Democratic Party, which she argued is misguided. She remarked on the Kavanaugh hearings, suggesting that Republicans learned that Democrats “declared war on us.” She believes Trump altered the political landscape in ways Cornyn doesn’t grasp, making him outdated.

Wren expressed concerns that granting Cornyn a final term could pose political risks for Trump, explaining that senators no longer accountable to their constituents often diverge from expected party lines. “It’s particularly dangerous to give John Cornyn a final term,” she stated, adding that Cornyn lacks the strong grassroots support essential for success.

When asked about Cornyn’s campaign after the primary, Wren noted how rare it is for an incumbent senator to be unseated, referencing the fact that no sitting senator has lost a primary since 2002. She pointed out that Cornyn and his allies invested heavily—mentioning a super PAC controlled by him that allegedly spent millions attacking Paxton. “It’s really pathetic,” she remarked, regarding Cornyn’s hefty spending against a much smaller campaign budget from Paxton.

Wren also discussed the internal conflict surrounding potential Trump endorsements. She described it as “ridiculous,” noting that some consultants close to Trump’s campaign encouraged him to back Cornyn. However, those plans shifted as more of Cornyn’s past statements resurfaced, leading Paxton to cleverly link his campaign strategy to the SAVE AMERICA Act. Wren praised Paxton’s strategy, saying it prompted Cornyn to adjust his stance on certain issues.

Wren observed that Cornyn seems to be struggling politically, mentioning that his campaign’s pollsters haven’t released any figures, which she believes indicates bad news for him. She highlighted Paxton’s strategic linkage of his campaign to the SAVE AMERICA Act, asserting it demonstrated a commitment to prioritizing the country over party interests.

Having spent 15 years in political fundraising and serving as Trump’s National Finance Director, Wren noted that Paxton stands out among other officials for resisting donor pressures. She recounted cases where lobbyists met with him, only to find he didn’t follow their directives. “That’s why Ken Paxton is so dangerous to the establishment,” she asserted.

Highlighting a series of legal actions Paxton has taken against significant corporations and entities, Wren stated that these actions illustrate his determination to avoid cozy relationships with D.C. corporate lobbyists, unlike many of his colleagues.