Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has spent decades in statewide elected office. But not a single Republican member of the Texas congressional delegation is willing to endorse him in his 2026 primary — at least not yet.
Cornyn is locked in the most grueling primary battle he’s faced since his 2002 election to the Senate. Public and private polls show him trailing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton by a staggering margin. Republicans say they fear Cornyn is in grave political peril.
Yet despite his long tenure in D.C. and nearly winning the race for Senate majority leader in November, Cornyn’s colleagues have thus far indicated little interest in showing support for the dean of their delegation.
Here’s a flavor of what Texas Republicans said when asked if they planned to endorse:
– Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas): “I’m staying out of that. I don’t know much about that.”
– Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas): “Oh goodness, no. We don’t even know who’s running, who’s in, who’s out.”
– Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas): “Well, Ken Paxton is a dear friend.”
– Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas): “Why should I?”
Sitting senators often have the support of their colleagues from their home state, even for a primary. But Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he plans to stay neutral. Meanwhile, Reps. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) and Troy Nehls (R-Texas) have backed Paxton.
When asked about a lack of endorsements, Cornyn said he hasn’t asked any of the Texas House Republicans for their support.
“Everybody who has to run in their own primary usually doesn’t want to alienate half of their voters,” Cornyn said. “I understand that. So I’m not putting anybody in that spot.”
Among the other Texas Republicans we talked to who said they would not yet endorse: Reps. Pete Sessions, Nathaniel Moran, Chip Roy, August Pfluger and Dan Crenshaw.
Reps. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) and Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), who is considering joining the Senate race, too, declined to comment.
Cornyn’s camp said that candidates in Texas rarely issue endorsements before the filing deadline. Cruz endorsed Cornyn’s 2020 bid in 2018. And Cornyn endorsed Cruz’s 2018 bid in 2017.
As the primary draws closer, some of these members may get off the sidelines and back Cornyn.
Cornyn’s reelection campaign has gotten public support and donations from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Majority Whip John Barrasso, Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton, NRSC Chair Tim Scott and a number of his Senate GOP colleagues. This includes conservatives like Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).
Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) has also donated to Cornyn’s reelection campaign through his leadership PAC.
A growing problem. This Senate race has turned into a massive headache for Republicans. Paxton is loved by the far-right in Texas, a dynamic that the polls reflect. But many GOP operatives fear that Paxton would alienate the middle-of-the-road voters needed to prevail in a general election.
Nobody in the Senate GOP hierarchy wants to spend tens of millions of dollars on defense in Texas – where a Democrat hasn’t won a Senate race since 1988 despite several close calls – when they’re trying to flip seats in Georgia and Michigan. Some Republicans wish a third candidate would run, but a three-way race might only open up a path for Paxton.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) wouldn’t answer a question from us about the Senate race. But he recently told Bloomberg Government that the “really brutal” race was “unfortunate.”
