The Texas Senate race has erupted into one of the most contentious and expensive Republican primaries in the nation, as Rep. Wesley Hunt officially entered the fray on October 6, 2025, setting his sights on unseating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and challenging Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The announcement, made in a three-minute video narrated by Hunt’s wife and brother and posted to X, highlighted Hunt’s military service at West Point, his upbringing, and his interracial marriage—an introduction that signaled both his personal story and his willingness to defy GOP leadership.
Hunt, a two-term congressman from the Houston area and one of the first Black Republicans to represent Texas in Congress, declared, “What I’ve seen in polling over the past few months is people want an alternative, and I’m going to give it to them,” according to the Associated Press. His campaign aims to break the deadlock between Cornyn and Paxton, whose bitter rivalry has dominated Texas Republican politics for months. “The U.S. Senate race in Texas must be about more than a petty feud between two men who have spent months trading barbs,” Hunt told the Texas Tribune. “With my candidacy, this race will finally be about what’s most important: Texas.”
Hunt’s entry comes after months of speculation and a significant investment in advertising. Since the spring of 2025, Hunt and groups supporting him have spent $6.5 million on ads across Texas, according to ad-tracking service AdImpact. That figure, though substantial, is dwarfed by the more than $21 million spent by groups backing Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term in the Senate. The primary has already become one of the most expensive races of the 2026 cycle, with fundraising and spending reaching record heights.
Sen. Cornyn, who reported raising $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2025 and holding $10.5 million in cash on hand by September’s end, has leaned heavily on both his campaign account and joint fundraising committees. According to the Washington Examiner, most of his recent fundraising came from joint committees, amplifying his financial edge. Cornyn’s campaign has unleashed a barrage of negative ads against Paxton, accusing him of fraud and questioning his loyalty to the Republican Party—and, crucially, to former President Donald Trump.
Paxton, meanwhile, has not reported his third-quarter fundraising but previously raised about $3 million in the second quarter. Despite facing a slew of legal and personal troubles—including state and federal corruption investigations, a 2023 impeachment trial, and a divorce filing by his wife on “biblical grounds” in July 2025—Paxton remains a formidable contender. His allies have countered Cornyn’s attacks by painting the senator as a “fake conservative” and emphasizing Paxton’s unwavering support for Trump.
Hunt’s relationship with Trump is another key factor in the race. As the first Republican to endorse Trump after the former president’s 2022 comeback announcement, Hunt has campaigned for him 17 times—more than any other Republican surrogate. He also delivered a prime-time speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, further solidifying his credentials among pro-Trump voters. While Paxton is also a Trump loyalist, Hunt’s proximity to the former president could prove decisive in a primary where, according to a Texas Southern University poll, 41% of likely Republican voters say they would be more inclined to support a candidate with Trump’s endorsement.
The entry of Hunt into the race has drawn sharp criticism from GOP leadership. Senate Republican leaders, including Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott, have publicly rebuked Hunt’s campaign. In a September memo, they wrote, “There never was, and never will be, a tenable pathway for Hunt. It’s time for the vanity project that could cost Republicans control of the Senate and dilute our resources to end.” The National Republican Senatorial Committee also accused Hunt of “choosing personal ambition over holding President Trump’s House Majority.”
Hunt, however, has dismissed these criticisms, arguing that the real waste of resources lies in backing Cornyn, whose campaign has already spent millions trying to close the gap with Paxton. “This is not a vanity project. This is about giving the people of Texas a viable alternative,” Hunt told the Associated Press. “Let’s stop the exercise in futility and get the right person for the job.”
The addition of Hunt to the primary increases the likelihood of a runoff if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the March 3, 2026, GOP primary. Cornyn’s campaign, for its part, seems unfazed by the new competition. Cornyn himself reposted a message from GOP operative Chris LaCivita, stating that Hunt will “do a good job of splitting up the vote—and increase his name ID for a future run as Land Commissioner.”
Paxton’s camp, in contrast, welcomed Hunt’s entry. Paxton adviser Nick Maddux told the Houston Chronicle, “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.” The battle lines are clear: Cornyn is the establishment favorite, backed by national Republican leaders and a formidable war chest; Paxton is the embattled but resilient Trump loyalist; Hunt is positioning himself as the alternative who can bridge the party’s internal divide.
On the Democratic side, the field is also heating up. State Rep. James Talarico has raised $6.2 million in the first six weeks of his campaign, while ex-Rep. Colin Allred reported $4.1 million since July 1, 2025. Allred, who narrowly lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, is running again, hoping to capitalize on a state that, despite its Republican lean, has become one of the most expensive and closely watched battlegrounds. In 2024, the Cruz-Allred race saw a staggering $200 million in candidate spending, as reported by OpenSecrets.
Yet, Texas remains a challenging terrain for Democrats. Trump carried the state by 14 points in 2024, and while Cornyn and Paxton have traded blows, the GOP’s grip on statewide offices has so far held firm. Still, the presence of well-funded Democratic challengers ensures that the eventual Republican nominee will face a tough general election.
With the Texas primary just months away, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown. The outcome could not only reshape the state’s political landscape but also play a pivotal role in determining the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. For now, all eyes are on Texas, where three high-profile Republicans—and a determined Democratic field—are vying for one of the most coveted seats in American politics.
As the campaign intensifies, voters and party leaders alike are left to wonder: will the GOP’s internal divisions pave the way for a Democratic upset, or will Texas Republicans rally behind a candidate who can unite the party and keep the state solidly red?
