War in Iran jolts final day of campaigning in Texas primary

Texas Senate Candidates Tread Carefully on U.S.-Israeli Strikes Against Iran

Candidates in Texas’ competitive U.S. Senate primary race are responding with notable caution to recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, as they make their final campaign pushes ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Republican contenders have generally expressed support for the Trump administration’s actions, while Democratic candidates have been more reserved in their commentary. With the situation still developing rapidly, most candidates have avoided making detailed statements about the military operations or speculating on future developments.

At a Monday lunchtime campaign event in Waco, Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton made only passing reference to the strikes during his 15-minute remarks. Speaking to reporters afterward, he expressed support for President Donald Trump’s decision while suggesting he had limited information about long-term military plans.

“An open-ended war? I don’t have any intelligence, but I don’t think that’s Trump’s idea,” Paxton said. “He wants to get this over with.” When pressed on whether Trump had clearly communicated the objectives of the strikes, Paxton declined to answer.

Paxton’s supporters at the Waco event were more vocal in their approval. Connie Stamps of Waco told reporters that eliminating Iranian leadership “is going to be good for the whole world,” dismissing concerns that Trump was initiating a foreign conflict after campaigning against such entanglements. “He cares about the whole world. He’s the peace president,” she said.

The military action comes at a sensitive time in U.S.-Iran relations. The Trump administration had been engaged in discussions with Iran regarding its nuclear program in recent weeks, and the strikes represent a significant escalation in tensions. Throughout his political career, Trump has consistently campaigned against prolonged military involvements overseas, though his administration has provided limited information about long-term objectives beyond weakening Iran’s power structure.

Four-term Republican Senator John Cornyn, who faces primary challenges from Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt, also spoke minimally about Iran during a campaign stop in Schertz, a San Antonio suburb. When questioned by a reporter, Cornyn expressed support for the strikes, which were conducted without prior congressional approval.

“We’ll have a debate in Congress what the goals and objectives are,” Cornyn said, adding, “I am completely satisfied in the president’s explanation.” He referenced Trump’s video announcement, describing it as “cogent and good,” while acknowledging that further debate would follow.

Cornyn revealed that during a recent flight on Air Force One with Trump to Texas, the president had consulted him and other members of the state’s congressional delegation about a potential strike. According to Cornyn, the delegation expressed support for the action.

Reactions from attendees at Cornyn’s event were mixed. Vietnam veteran Elton Hartwich voiced strong support for the military action, saying, “I think it should be backed by more people. I think we as Americans gotta look back at what Iranians did to our people.”

In contrast, David Ozuna of New Braunfels expressed opposition to the strikes, citing personal connections to military service and casualties. “I think that we as citizens, before we send our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers to support this thing, deserve to have a good explanation as to what we’re doing, what the objective is and where we’re going,” Ozuna said.

On the Democratic side, Senate candidate James Talarico, competing against Rep. Jasmine Crockett for their party’s nomination, made only brief mention of the conflict during a University of Houston rally, expressing regret for the deaths of three U.S. service members.

Houston resident Charles Padmore offered a more critical perspective, calling the strikes “absolutely horrible” and questioning their legality. “We’re the aggressor. They didn’t do anything to us, really, so we shouldn’t have been so aggressive in attacking them, and a lot of people have died,” Padmore said. He expressed concern that without a clear exit strategy, the conflict “could go for years to come.”

As Tuesday’s primary approaches, the candidates’ cautious handling of the Iran situation reflects the complex political calculations at play, with voters across the political spectrum holding divergent views on U.S. military involvement in the Middle East.