FROM LEFT: Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt/Photos by U.S. Senate, Attorney General’s Office, and U.S. House
By Amarillo Pioneer Editorial Board
In the race for the U.S. Senate in Texas, Sen. John Cornyn is being challenged by a handful of Republican challengers. The field of opponents includes Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, among others.
This Republican primary marks likely the most serious opportunity for Cornyn’s opponents to replace him. Cornyn didn’t face much primary opposition in 2020, though momentum behind the movement to replace him picked up after he worked with Democrats to author a gun control package in 2022.
There’s been a lot of discussion about which candidate is most likely to give Republicans some insurance at the ballot box in November. And while Cornyn has been making the case that nominating either Paxton or Hunt would lead to a massacre for Republicans, polling isn’t reflecting that as reality at this point. In most head-to-head matchups, Paxton is running in about the same position as Cornyn in a hypothetical general election contest against either major Democrat candidate.
In the end, this polling shows Cornyn’s primary argument is flawed. This shouldn’t be a race about which candidate can win in November, since polling shows either Cornyn or Paxton would win in November. Instead, this race needs to be about which candidate is the best standard bearer for Republicans in the general election.
If that’s how the race is actually to be viewed, then the conclusion is clear — Cornyn has sold out his party too often, and it’s time for him to retire and come home.
But who should replace Cornyn? That’s a tougher question to answer, as both Paxton and Hunt have their own strengths and weaknesses.
In this recommendation, we’re not going to choose between Paxton, Hunt, or any of the other challengers. We feel this is a choice for Republican primary voters to make. The only guidance we will provide, however, is that if voters want an actual, principled conservative Republican as their nominee in November, they should vote for anyone but Sen. John Cornyn.
We offer no recommendation for U.S. Senate, but encourage our readers to vote against John Cornyn.
Early voting runs from February 17 through February 27. Election Day is Tuesday, March 3.
Please note: An editorial board recommendation does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Amarillo Pioneer’s advertisers or staff. A recommendation of one candidate does not represent a criticism of other candidates running unless otherwise stated. Recommendations may be offered in additional races.