Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt Enters Senate Race
Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Texas Republican, announced on Monday that he is entering the Senate race, stepping into the ongoing contest between current Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
In his campaign launch statement, Hunt noted, “The U.S. Senate race in Texas should involve more than just a petty squabble between two men trading insults for months. My candidacy focuses on what truly matters to Texans.”
His entry is expected to intensify the already heated battle as Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth six-year term in 2026, faces off against Paxton, a prominent Trump ally. Hunt, who graduated from West Point and served in the Army flying Apache helicopters, is a rising star from a solidly Republican district in the Houston area. He remarked, “My track record speaks for itself.”
Amidst these tensions, Cornyn had widespread support earlier this summer, leading Paxton by double digits, backed by Senate Majority Leader John Tune and the National Republican Senate Committee.
However, recent weeks have seen Cornyn close the gap, largely due to an extensive advertising campaign that has brought Paxton’s past controversies to light. Trump, while currently neutral, will likely sway the outcome significantly.
Hunt praised Trump’s past support and emphasized his commitment, stating, “I was the first to back President Trump’s efforts to return to the White House, and I will continue to advocate for the people of Texas.”
Having considered a run for some time, Hunt allegedly communicated with Trump’s political team, asserting that he is the best candidate to win both the primary and general elections.
Additionally, over the summer, a super PAC allied with the campaign invested heavily in boosting Hunt’s profile across Texas.
Paxton’s advisor indicated that “primaries can benefit our party and its voters,” adding that Hunt and Paxton believe Texans deserve better than Cornyn’s perceived failures in relation to Trump.
On the other hand, Cornyn’s campaign emphasizes Hunt’s popularity as a local figure, noting that Trump’s agenda is jeopardized by the millions being spent to undermine candidates.
Hunt’s participation may complicate the primary in March, potentially preventing any candidate from securing a majority, which could lead to a runoff a couple of months later.
While Democrats are hopeful about a Paxton victory in the primary, believing it may lead to a more competitive general election, it’s been nearly four decades since they last won a Senate seat in Texas. They are looking toward candidates like former Rep. Colin Allred, who faced a significant loss to Senator Ted Cruz in the last cycle, and other hopefuls in the race for the 2026 Democratic nomination.
