Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, is jumping into the Senate race in Texas, joining a competitive primary battle between Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Hunt told The Associated Press in an interview that he believes that polling indicates “people want an alternative, and I’m going to give it to them.”
He highlighted his 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."
In a news release, he said that “the U.S. Senate race in Texas must be about more than a 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.”
Cornyn is up for re-election in 2026, but he faces a competitive race with Paxton, who entered the race in April. Paxton, a firm ally of Trump’s, also touted his support for Trump in his campaign announcement. Polling between the two Republicans has been close, and Hunt's entrance could disrupt the race.
In his release, Hunt touted his early endorsement for Trump and his conservative bona fides, arguing he was "the most consistently conservative legislator representing Texas in Congress."
Hunt also referred to Cornyn's support from GOP leaders in Washington. While Trump has not endorsed anyone in the primary, Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Tim Scott, R-S.C., are backing Cornyn.
"Bureaucrats in D.C. do not choose Texas’ leadership, Texans do," he said. "This race will be settled by Texans, not entrenched political figures from inside the beltway."
A launch video featured Hunt’s family and friends praising his character and experience.
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., said in the video that Hunt “knows how important saving this country is, and I know that’s why he’s willing to sacrifice so much.”
Hint’s wife, Emily Hunt, called him “the heart and soul of the family,” and his brother Wrendon Hunt said he “is a natural leader.”
Matt Mackowiak, a senior adviser for Cornyn's campaign, said in a statement that Hunt "is a legend in his own mind."
"No one is happier this morning than the national Democrats who are watching Wesley continue his quixotic quest for relevancy, costing tens of millions of dollars that will endanger the Trump agenda from being passed," Mackowiak said.
Nick Maddux, an adviser to Paxton's campaign, said in a statement that "we welcome Wesley Hunt to the race."
"Primaries are good for our party and our voters, and Wesley and General Paxton both know that Texans deserve better than the failed, anti-Trump record of John Cornyn," Maddux said.
Hunt and his allies had already hit the airwaves ahead of his launch. His House campaign has spent $2.4 million on ads so far, and an allied outside group, Standing for Texas, has spent nearly $4.1 million, according to the ad-tracking service AdImpact.
The Texas Republican primary has attracted nearly $30 million in ad spending, with two pro-Cornyn groups spending around $20 million as Cornyn’s allies have worked to boost his poll numbers.
Cornyn has said Trump could be moved to endorse him if he closes the polling gap.
“I pointed out to him, and he knows this, that if he endorsed me, the race would be over,” Cornyn told NBC News in July.
Cornyn won re-election in 2020, securing 53.5% of the vote. His Senate tenure began in 2002, while Hunt has served in Congress since 2023, representing parts of the Houston area.
The Democratic primary is also competitive, with former Rep. Colin Allred, who lost to Sen. Ted Cruz last year, and state Rep. James Talarico in the race. Democrats have long believed the state could be competitive, but they have not held a Senate seat in Texas in nearly four decades. Trump won Texas by nearly 14 points in 2024, while Cruz defeated Allred by almost 9 points.
