Four challenging Cornyn for U.S. Senate, two Republicans, two Democrats

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(The Center Square) – Four men are challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for a seat he’s held since 2002: two Republicans as of Monday, and two Democrats. 

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Republican from Houston, announced he was running for Senate. 

“I’m running for the United States Senate because the Washington establishment has no right to choose who represents Texas,” the two-term congressman said. “That decision belongs to Texans, and Texans alone. There’s a clear hunger for new leadership, for an alternative that reflects the future of this nation. 

“The Senate needs younger, battle-tested, forward-thinking leaders who have real skin in the game, leaders who will live with the consequences of the votes they take. The time is NOW. And I will fight tirelessly, every single day, to earn your trust, your confidence, and your vote.”

Hunt is hoping to knock Attorney General Ken Paxton out of the race if Paxton doesn’t suspend his campaign before the March primary. Paxton has been sliding in the polls after ongoing extramarital affair allegations continue even after his wife filed for divorce citing infidelity; ethical questions continue to be raised about his staff; his former staff are embroiled in ongoing litigation and conservative Christian groups like Texas Values pulled their endorsement. 

Cornyn’s campaign has hammered Paxton, the only Texas attorney general to be impeached in state history, for repeated scandals and alleged conflicts of interest that have followed Paxton for years. Paxton claims he is conservative, repeatedly labeling Cornyn as a “Rino,” (Republican in name only), despite Cornyn voting with President Donald Trump 97% of the time. 

Cornyn criticized Hunt entering the race, claiming, “Hunt is a legend in his own mind. No one is happier this morning than the national Democrats who are watching Wesley continue his quixotic quest for relevancy, costing tens of millions of dollars that will endanger the Trump agenda from being passed.”

In response, Hunt said, “The D.C. establishment calls my candidacy a vanity project. Let me be clear, when you’ve been shot at by a Russian-made .50 caliber machine gun in combat, when you’ve served this nation in uniform for eight years, when you’re a husband, a father of three, and a proud Texan, there’s nothing vain about standing up for your country. This isn’t about ego. It’s about duty.” 

Hunt, who’s been on the campaign trail with President Donald Trump, and advocated for the Trump agenda, is a West Point graduate and represents a solid conservative district.

Houston realtor Jon Bonck announced he’s running for Hunt’s seat and has already been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

On the Democratic front, former congressman Colin Allred, who lost his first Senate race challenging Cruz last year, is hoping he can defeat Cornyn. Allred ran into trouble last year after flip flopping on issues like claiming to oppose boys in girl’s sports while supporting it, and claiming to support the Texas energy industry while voting against it, The Center Square reported. 

Despite polls and many media outlets indicating the race was too close to call or Allred would defeat Cruz, Cruz won by 14 points. Voters overwhelmingly ushered Cruz into office, including more blacks, Hispanics and former Democratic voters who either left the party or voted for the first time, The Center Square reported.

Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is also running for U.S. Senate, hoping to defeat Allred, after he helped shut down the state legislative process earlier this year. Talarico, a former teacher, was among more than two dozen House Democrats who left the state in opposition to a redistricting bill they argued was racist and discriminatory. The legislature ultimately passed the bill, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law. 

The new map creates two new Black-majority voter districts and Hispanic-majority districts, the majority of which lean Republican majority, The Center Square reported. 

The Republican and Democratic primaries are March 3, 2026.