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Texas Senate Race Heats Up as Hunt Gains Momentum Against Cornyn and Paxton
Republican Texas U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt has emerged as an increasingly significant factor in the state’s contentious GOP primary for U.S. Senate, drawing intensified attacks from his better-established rivals as Tuesday’s vote approaches.
“As an Apache helicopter pilot, it means I must be right over the target zone,” the Iraq War veteran recently told supporters at Dallas GOP headquarters, referencing the growing barrage of negative advertising directed his way.
Hunt, who represents Houston’s northwest suburbs, entered the race in October as a late challenger in what had been primarily a contest between four-term incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Initially viewed as a potential spoiler who might force a runoff by preventing any candidate from securing the required 50 percent majority, Hunt now appears to be gaining enough traction to genuinely concern his opponents.
The dynamics have shifted noticeably in recent weeks, with both Cornyn and Paxton ramping up spending on ads targeting Hunt. This strategic shift suggests both campaigns view him as a legitimate threat rather than merely a third-wheel candidate.
For Cornyn, the situation underscores his precarious position as he fights to avoid becoming the first Republican senator in Texas history to lose a renomination bid. The 74-year-old incumbent, who has served in the Senate since 2003, has fallen out of favor with segments of the Republican base after supporting gun control measures following the 2022 Uvalde school shooting and initially dismissing Donald Trump’s 2024 candidacy.
“I would never vote for Cornyn,” said Bob Burns, a 74-year-old retired manufacturing executive attending Hunt’s Dallas event. Burns described the incumbent as out of step with today’s GOP and praised Hunt as someone who “can carry on Trump’s good work.”
Paxton, meanwhile, faces his own vulnerabilities despite strong support from the party’s Trump-aligned wing. The 63-year-old attorney general survived a failed impeachment trial in 2023 and has faced accusations of extramarital affairs, raising concerns among Senate Republican campaign leaders in Washington about his electability in a general election.
Combined, various campaign groups have spent at least $8.3 million on ads attacking Hunt, according to ad-tracking service AdImpact. Nearly $7 million has come from Cornyn’s campaign or allied groups, while almost $1.4 million has been spent by a pro-Paxton super PAC, Lonestar Liberty PAC.
“I think it suggests Paxton thinks he might be able to get to 50 percent, and that Hunt is polling too close,” explained Wayne Hamilton, a Republican strategist unaffiliated with the Senate candidates. “And Cornyn may be seeing Hunt ticking up too close.”
Hunt, 44, presents himself as a fresher alternative to both Cornyn and Paxton, emphasizing his early endorsement of Trump’s 2024 campaign and frequent appearances as a surrogate for the former president. He has also promoted his support for a two-term limit for U.S. senators, further distinguishing himself from the long-serving Cornyn.
“I was told this was going to be a vanity project and that I didn’t have a chance,” Hunt told reporters after his Dallas event. “If that were the case, then why are they spending all this money attacking me?”
The attacks have included criticism of Hunt’s vote for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, though Hunt has explained this as part of a conservative-led effort to complicate the Democratic nomination process to benefit Republican nominee John McCain. More recently, a Paxton-supporting super PAC has aired ads criticizing Hunt’s absences from the House while campaigning across Texas.
If no candidate receives at least 50 percent of the vote on Tuesday, the nomination will be decided in a May 26 runoff between the top two finishers. Cornyn has publicly stated he expects to face Paxton in such a scenario, making it crucial for him to prevent Hunt from surpassing him in the final days of the campaign.
“The biggest thing that’s happened in the race is Hunt’s getting in,” said Tyler Norris, an unaffiliated Texas Republican strategist. “But, so far, his major contribution is to guarantee a runoff where Paxton and Cornyn will spend tens of millions more to attack each other.”
As the primary approaches, Hunt’s candidacy has transformed what might have been a straightforward battle between established figures into a more unpredictable three-way contest that could significantly reshape Texas Republican politics.
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7 Comments
This primary race will be a test of whether GOP voters in Texas are looking for a fresh, outside-the-establishment candidate like Hunt, or if they’ll stick with the more seasoned politicians. It’s shaping up to be a hard-fought battle in the final stretch.
This race is a good example of the tensions within the GOP, with the establishment figures like Cornyn clashing with more insurgent candidates like Hunt. It will be fascinating to see if Texas Republicans opt for a change candidate or stick with the status quo.
Hunt’s status as a political outsider could work in his favor or against him. Voters may be drawn to his military background and new perspective, but he’ll need to prove he has the experience and policy chops to take on the Senate role. The attacks from Cornyn and Paxton suggest they see him as a real contender.
The dynamics in this race seem to be shifting rapidly, with Hunt gaining unexpected traction against his more famous rivals. It will be interesting to see if he can sustain that momentum and potentially force a runoff. The attacks from Cornyn and Paxton suggest they’re taking him very seriously as a threat.
As an Iraq War veteran, Hunt’s military background could give him an edge in connecting with GOP voters. However, he’s facing formidable opponents in Cornyn and Paxton, who have much higher name recognition. It will come down to who can best mobilize their base in the primary.
Hunt’s military service is certainly a compelling factor, but voters will also want to see a substantive policy platform. The attacks from his rivals indicate they see him as a rising threat, so his campaign will need to keep building momentum.
This race in Texas is heating up with Hunt emerging as a serious contender. It will be interesting to see if he can gain enough traction to force a runoff against the more established candidates. The dynamics seem to be shifting as his rivals ramp up attacks, suggesting they view him as a legitimate threat.