Incumbent
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
32.5%
37.8%
24.4%
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
$15.6M
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.comapnews.combioguideretro.congress.govthune.senate.govlankford.senate.govperiodicalpress.senate.govcapito.senate.govdurbin.senate.govcongress.govcommerce.senate.govcommons.wikimedia.orgupload.wikimedia.orgjudiciary.senate.govrules.senate.gov
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 updatedMar 14, 2026
John Cornyn is headed to a Texas Republican U.S. Senate runoff against Attorney General Ken Paxton after neither won a majority in the primary. A new poll shows Cornyn trailing Paxton, while Cornyn has moved to shore up support by forming a faith advisory council with evangelical leaders. The race is also being shaped by uncertainty over whether Donald Trump will endorse Cornyn or Paxton, a decision Texas Republicans are publicly debating.
cornyn.senate.gov+33
Articles
UNU.S. News & World Report3 months ago
Should Trump Endorse Cornyn? Some Texas Republicans Say It Would Be a MAGA 'Mistake'
Neutral
TDThe Dallas Morning News3 months ago
Cornyn creates faith advisory group while ramping up character attacks on Paxton
Positive
FNFox News3 months ago
Rep Eric Burlison endorses Ken Paxton in heated GOP Senate primary runoff
Negative
NNewsweek3 months ago
Paxton vs Cornyn Texas Senate Chances With Trump Endorsement: New Poll
Negative
Polls
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Endorsers of John Cornyn for Texas Republican Senate nominee?
Senate Republican leadership
Public endorsement
Senate Republican leadership endorsed John Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary runoff.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$7.9M
$5.9M
$4.0M
$2.0M
$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
$7.9M
$4.1M
$8.0M
$468.3K
Source: FEC