Congress
Wesley Hunt’s Texas Senate campaign helps John Cornyn, poll finds
For Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the more the merrier.
Despite the entry of Rep. Wesley Hunt into Texas’s ferocious GOP Senate primary, a new poll from a pro-Cornyn super PAC obtained by Blue Light News shows the four-term incumbent Republican in the lead.
The poll was conducted by Texans for a Conservative Majority in the days immediately prior to Hunt announcing that he would turn the Senate between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton into a three-way contest.
It shows Cornyn with the support of 33 percent of Texas Republican primary voters, followed by Paxton at 28 percent and Hunt at 21 percent. Still undecided are 18 percent of primary voters.
Hunt’s entry into the race cannibalizes Paxton’s support, according to the poll. When Hunt voters are forced to choose between the two, 48 percent would be willing to back the Texas attorney general, while 24 percent would opt to support Cornyn.
Public polling has also shown a tight three-way race. A recent poll from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University has shown Paxton and Cornyn virtually tied with a third of the vote each, with Hunt trailing at 22 percent.
A simple plurality though isn’t good enough for Cornyn. Texas has a primary runoff system, which would mean a second round of voting in late May 2026 if no candidate earns an outright majority in the March 3 primary.
Cornyn has steadily improved his standing in public and private polls in recent months on the basis of a major television advertising effort on his behalf.A private poll in May had Cornyn down nearly 20 points in a head-to-head matchup against Paxton but he has steadily closed the gap since.
The new poll shows Paxton’s job approval among Republicans falling as the controversial attorney general faces attacks over a host of ethics issues which culminated in a failed 2023 impeachment attempt against him.
The pro-Cornyn poll was conducted by Deep Root Analytics from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28 among 1,142 Texas Republicans likely to vote in the primary.
A large contingent of House Republicans — encompassing hard-liners, Budget Committee members, panel chairs and party leaders — piled into Speaker Mike Johnson’s office Thursday afternoon to discuss a second party-line package, according to four people granted anonymity to share details of the private meeting.
Among the lawmakers attending were Budget Chair Jodey Arrington of Texas and Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger, also of Texas.
Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Byron Donalds of Florida, Tom McClintock of California and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma were also on hand, alongside Pennsylvania Reps. Lloyd Smucker and Scott Perry.
“We’re definitely preparing to move forward,” Johnson said in an interview as he left the meeting, regarding the House GOP Conference’s plans to pursue another bill through the filibuster-skirting budget reconciliation process. “We’re talking about more details. Lots of work going on.”
One of the biggest issues members are trying to work through at the moment is how to close the wide gap between Republicans in the House and Senate. Most House Republicans want a more expansive bill with myriad conservative policy priorities to ride alongside war and defense funding, while the Senate GOP is largely pushing for a more narrowly-focused measure, according to the four people.
Senate Democrats rejected a GOP photo ID amendment Thursday, an issue that Republicans are eager to use as a cudgel in the midterms.
Senators voted 53-47 on the amendment from Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, which needed 60 votes to advance. Republicans wanted to add the language to their election bill, known as the SAVE America Act.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the amendment “would impose the single strictest voter ID law in America.”
“Stricter than Texas. Stricter than Florida. Stricter than any state in the country,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wants to clinch a bipartisan Department of Homeland Security funding agreement Thursday.
“I think the Dems are now in possession of what I think is our last and final” offer, Thune told reporters. “So let’s hope this gets it done.”
“We’re going to know soon,” he added.
The South Dakota Republican declined to discuss details of the offer but suggested it was similar to where the discussions were headed over the weekend. GOP senators then were looking at a bipartisan deal that would fund most of DHS but leave out funding for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
That offer was rejected by Democrats. But two people granted anonymity to discuss the revised proposal said it, too, omitted only ERO money but included additional language to try to address some of Democrats’ concerns.
Spokespeople for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Senate is expected to vote again on the House-passed DHS bill Thursday afternoon. The House is also voting again on DHS funding Thursday and is planning to leave town Friday morning for a two-week holiday recess. Progress in the Senate could prompt House GOP leaders to stay in session in hopes of sending a bill to President Donald Trump.
Asked about the Senate vote, Thune said he hoped there would be “some finality in this real soon.”
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