Incumbent
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
32.5%
37.8%
24.4%
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
$16.2M
MAY 27, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age74 years old (Feb 2, 1952)
GenderMale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundAttorney
EducationTrinity University (B.A., Journalism, 1973)
Notable personal detailsJohn Cornyn is a Republican U.S. Senator from Texas, first elected in 2002. He previously served as a Bexar County district judge, a justice on the Texas Supreme Court, and Texas Attorney General. He earned a B.A. in journalism from Trinity University, a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law.
SourcesShowHide
cornyn.senate.govgovinfo.govbritannica.comen.wikipedia.orgjohncornyn.comtwitter.comtexastribune.orgdallasnews.comes.wikipedia.orgx.comchron.comww.twstalker.comsenate.govtxelection.comtexasstandard.orgcruz.senate.govksat.combritt.senate.govcnbc.comhoustonchronicle.comfox4news.comcbsnews.comnfib.comapnews.compbs.orgnpr.orgtheatlantic.comabcnews.comnytimes.comaxios.comhoustonpublicmedia.orgc-span.orgpolitico.comfoxnews.comtexasscorecard.comaljazeera.comcnn.comrollcall.comballotpedia.orgbioguide.congress.govdailypress.senate.govjudiciary.senate.govcommons.wikimedia.orgupload.wikimedia.orgcongress.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcommerce.senate.govcdn.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
John Cornyn supports reducing taxes for individuals and businesses, backed passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and advocates tax relief to stimulate growth and allow Americans to keep more of their earnings. He emphasizes lowering taxation, promoting pro-growth policies for job creation, and extending or making permanent tax cuts enacted under recent Republican legislation.
Healthcare
Supports market- and state-centered reforms to reduce costs, opposes the Affordable Care Act and has backed efforts to repeal or replace it, and emphasizes returning decision-making to states, doctors, and patients rather than expanding federal programs. Advocates measures such as tax credits/HSA-like approaches and targeted regulatory changes rather than single-payer or major federal expansions.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border security and enforcement measures, including ending catch-and-release and increasing transparency on how migrants are processed. Has backed legislation to reimburse Texas for state border costs, tighten placement rules for unaccompanied minors, and require DHS reporting on migrants released into the interior. Says immigration-law changes should follow securing the border and supports removing people present unlawfully.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports major federal restrictions on abortion including permanent bans on taxpayer funding for abortion, has voted for legislation restricting abortion access (including limits and protections for infants born after failed abortions), and has pushed to limit access to the abortion pill and to rescind policies expanding abortion availability at federal facilities.
Climate & Energy
Supports maximizing domestic fossil fuel production and reducing federal regulatory barriers to energy development, opposes the Green New Deal and has backed efforts to block Biden administration emissions-related rules. Promotes market-driven energy policies, innovation such as carbon-capture for natural gas, and energy independence while criticizing aggressive federal climate regulations. Has cosponsored and supported legislation and resolutions that open federal lands and offshore areas to energy development and roll back or block certain emissions rules.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strengthening and better enforcing the federal background-check system and bipartisan, limited gun-safety measures while opposing broad bans on assault-style weapons or expanding background-check disqualifiers. Has worked on legislation to improve NICS reporting and has said law‑abiding gun owners should not be affected by post‑Uvalde legislative compromises.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
John Cornyn lost the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff to Ken Paxton, ending his bid for the seat. After the defeat, Cornyn said he still thinks Paxton is unfit for office and said he will not campaign for him in the general election. He has also started criticizing Donald Trump more openly, saying Trump "revels in chaos" and that their conversations were not very useful. Cornyn has signaled he may back away from some Trump-related priorities, including a bill to rename a Texas highway after Trump.
cornyn.senate.gov+47
Articles
SIStaten Island Advance1 month ago
Burned by Trump, Republican offers scathing assessment: ‘Chaos’
Negative
SSalon1 month ago
People keep voting for scandal-plagued candidates because they don't want the other party to win
Negative
TGThe Gateway Pundit1 month ago
Senator Mike Lee Hits Back After RINO Cornyn Says SAVE America Act is Dead
Negative
WEWashington Examiner2 months ago
Cornyn says he won’t campaign for Paxton in Texas Senate race
Neutral
Polls
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Endorsers of John Cornyn for Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Tim Scott
Public figure
Tim Scott supported John Cornyn and warned Texas could be difficult to hold if Cornyn is not the nominee.
30 current and past Republican elected leaders in DFW
Public endorsement
Thirty current and past Republican elected leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth endorsed John Cornyn for re-election.
15 former Republican members of Congress from Texas
Public endorsement
Fifteen former Republican members of Congress from Texas endorsed John Cornyn in his primary race.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$8.6M
$6.5M
$4.3M
$2.2M
$0
2022
2024
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$2.3M
$1.6M
$1.3M
$54.9K
Cycle 2024
$3.4M
$4.1M
$851.0K
$35.5K
Cycle 2026
$8.6M
$542.1K
$12.2M
$676.9K
Source: FEC