U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) announced Monday that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in the Lone Star State. Hunt will be joining a crowded primary field that includes incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Hunt said he believes that “people want an alternative, and I’m going to give it to them.” The congressman highlighted his staunch support for President Donald Trump on his campaign website, saying he was “fighting alongside President Trump to codify DOGE cuts, secure our border, and fight for economic prosperity for all Texans.”
Hunt criticized both of his opponents in a press release, as Paxton and Cornyn have been locked in a tense back-and-forth for more than a year. The congressman described his desire to elevate the race to more thana petty feud between two men who have spent months trading barbs.”
“With my candidacy, this race will finally be about what’s most important,” Hunt said. “I will ensure this campaign centers on what truly matters: Texas families, the protection of American energy, the security of our border, and the safety of every community across our great state.”
Rep. Hunt speaks at the Republican National Convention in 2024
According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Paxton currently holds a four-point lead over Cornyn, though Hunt’s formal entry into the race is sure to shake things up. According to one recent poll from the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University, 35 percent of respondents expressed support for Paxton, while 30 percent expressed support for Cornyn in a three-way race with Hunt.
Hunt was the preferred candidate for 22 percent of respondents, while an additional 13 percent remained unsure.
In terms of favorability, the poll provided a great result for Hunt, as 47 percent of likely voters expressed a positive opinion. Just eight percent expressed an unfavorable opinion, while an additional 45 percent said they did not know enough about him.
Paxton led in terms of raw favorability with 58 percent, though 39 percent of respondents expressed a negative opinion. The same was largely true for the embattled Cornyn, who was viewed as favorable by 50 percent of likely voters, but had an almost equal high unfavorable number of 45 percent.
Cornyn has long been facing an uphill battle due to his previous clashes with President Trump. He also joined Democrats in co-sponsoring a sweeping gun control bill in the aftermath of the Uvalde Elementary School mass shooting.
Rep. Hunt will likely be competing with Paxton, and potentially U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, with the pro-Trump wing of the electorate.
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