Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt (R) announced he is running for the U.S. Senate, setting up a high-profile three-way Republican primary against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
In an interview published Monday by the Associated Press, Hunt said his decision was driven by what he described as growing voter frustration with the current field.
“I’m going to give [Texas voters] an alternative,” Hunt told the AP. “I’m going to give it to them.”
Hunt, a two-term congressman and Army veteran from Houston, has been hinting for months at a statewide run. He has spent heavily on advertising, with roughly $1.2 million in ad buys and reservations so far this year, according to AdImpact, a firm that tracks political spending.
His decision injects new uncertainty into a race that has already divided key factions of the Texas GOP. Cornyn, a four-term incumbent and former Senate Republican whip, faces a strong challenge from Paxton, who remains popular among the party’s conservative grassroots despite ongoing legal troubles.
Trump’s Role Looms Large
President Donald Trump — who enjoys deep loyalty among Texas Republicans — has yet to endorse in the contest. He told reporters last week that he remains undecided between Paxton and Cornyn, though Hunt confirmed he spoke with Trump earlier this year about a potential Senate bid.
Trump’s eventual endorsement could prove pivotal in determining the direction of the primary, which many observers expect to become one of the most closely watched GOP races of the 2026 cycle.
Cornyn Campaign Pushes Back
Cornyn’s campaign dismissed Hunt’s entry as a distraction.
“No one is happier this morning than the national Democrats who are watching Wesley continue his quixotic quest for relevancy,” said Matt Mackowiak, a senior adviser to Cornyn’s campaign. “He’s wasting tens of millions of dollars that will endanger the Trump agenda from being passed.”
Cornyn’s team also described Hunt as “a legend in his own mind.”
GOP Establishment Frustration
Republican leaders in Washington are reportedly unhappy with Hunt’s decision. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which has endorsed Cornyn, circulated a memo last month urging Hunt’s donors to discourage him from running.
In the memo, first obtained by The Hill, the NRSC called Hunt’s potential Senate campaign “a vanity project” that could “dilute party resources” and risk losing control of the Senate.
“The path forward is clear: Wesley Hunt must stop wasting donor resources on Senate posturing, run for reelection in his new district, and help President Trump win the five additional seats in Texas that are critical to maintaining the Republican majority in the U.S. House,” the memo stated.
Polls Show Tight Race Between Cornyn and Paxton
Recent polling shows Cornyn gaining ground but still trailing Paxton.
A Texas Public Opinion Research poll released earlier this month found Paxton leading Cornyn 32 percent to 26 percent among registered voters, with 29 percent undecided. Another Texas Southern University poll in August showed Paxton ahead 44 percent to 39 percent among likely GOP primary voters — down from a 9-point lead in May.
With Hunt now entering the race, analysts say the contest could become even more unpredictable, particularly if he manages to consolidate support among Republican voters seeking a new face in Texas politics.
Hunt’s campaign has not yet released a formal launch video or schedule of appearances, but advisers say he plans to tour several Texas cities later this month as part of a “listening tour” aimed at introducing his Senate platform.
%20(1)%20(1)%20(1).png)
