Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt Calls for Abolition of DEI

Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Republican from Texas, has advocated for the complete and permanent elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. He emphasized that he prefers to be evaluated solely on “character,” “competence,” and “achievements.”

In a statement, the Army veteran asserted, “DEI should be abolished forever. I don’t want to be chosen, promoted, or paid because of my appearance. I want to earn every opportunity on my merits through hard work, grit, discipline, and determination.” He also shared his thoughts on social media.

“Equality means equal standards, not engineered results. The dignity of achievement comes from effort, not qualifications. Judge me by my character, my abilities, and my results. Anything less is an insult to everyone striving to be their best,” he continued.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk strongly backed Hunt’s viewpoint. He remarked, “And this is how a person with honor should be!” in a post related to Hunt’s statement.

Hunt has previously expressed a negative stance on DEI, stating in a May 2025 post, “DEI should be DOA. America was built on merit, grit, determination, and hard work, not on skin color, quotas, or political gamesmanship. The promise of this country is simple: We will rise by the strength of our character, not the color of our skin. I have lived by that truth, and it drives the left completely nuts.”

The congressman, who began his term in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, is currently gearing up to run for the Senate. He will contend against incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who is seeking re-election this year. Additionally, Attorney General Ken Paxton is also looking to challenge Cornyn in the Republican primary.