Texas Senate Race Heats Up as Rep Wesley Hunt Enters GOP Contest
Wesley Hunt Enters Texas Senate Race: Shaking Up the Republican Primary
Hunt Challenges Cornyn and Paxton with Focus on Texan Values
Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Republican from Texas, has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, entering a heated primary contest against current Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. In an interview with the Associated Press, Hunt expressed confidence in the race, emphasizing that current polling reflects a desire for change. “People want an alternative, and I’m going to give it to them,” he stated.
Hunt’s campaign underscores his alliance with former President Donald Trump, emphasizing efforts to implement tax reductions, secure the U.S.–Mexico border, and advocate for the economic well-being of all Texans. He highlighted that the Senate race should transcend “a petty feud between two men who have spent months trading barbs,” asserting his candidacy will refocus the campaign on key issues such as protecting American energy and ensuring community security.
Republican Primary Dynamics Intensify
John Cornyn, seeking another term in 2026, now faces a formidable challenge with Hunt’s entry into the race, joining Paxton, who declared his candidacy earlier this year. Ken Paxton, a staunch supporter of Trump, also bases his campaign around his alignment with the former president. With early polling indicating a tight race between Cornyn and Paxton, Hunt could significantly influence the primary’s outcome.
In his campaign launch materials, Hunt boasts a strong commitment to conservative values and proudly claims to be “the most consistently conservative legislator representing Texas in Congress.” Reaffirming that “bureaucrats in D.C. do not choose Texas’ leadership, Texans do,” Hunt emphasizes that state residents will ultimately determine the primary’s outcome.
Character and Leadership Endorsements
Supporting the launch of his campaign, Hunt released a video featuring endorsements from family and political colleagues. Rep. Eli Crane from Arizona highlighted Hunt’s dedication to national service, asserting that “Hunt knows how important saving this country is,” while Hunt’s wife, Emily Hunt, described him as “the heart and soul of the family.”
With his campaign now underway, Hunt aims to leverage his reputation as a natural leader and his experience in Congress, where he represents a Houston area district. Wesley Hunt’s bid marks a notable chapter in a race gaining additional attention with Democratic state Rep. James Talarico entering the election in September, reinvigorating Democratic hopes of capturing a Senate seat in Texas for the first time in nearly forty years.
