Politics
NEW: GOP Rep. Vows Political Comeback After Texas Senate Primary Loss
Rep. Wesley Hunt is already looking ahead after a third-place finish in Texas’ high-stakes Republican Senate primary.
The Houston-area congressman finished third Tuesday behind incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending his long-shot bid to jump from the House to the Senate. But Hunt made clear in his concession remarks that he’s not going anywhere.
Opening his speech by thanking God, Hunt said he was grateful to live in a country where voters decide who leads.
“We, the people, the people of Texas, have spoken. Unfortunately, that person is not me, but that’s okay. Because I always win because I’m a believer in Christ,” Hunt said. “And I will say this, this will not be the last time you see my name on a ballot. I can assure you.”
Hunt said his time in Congress and his Senate campaign had taught him “valuable lessons,” adding that the Republican Party must continue to elevate a new generation of leaders.
The congressman stopped short of backing either remaining candidate but pledged to support the eventual nominee in the general election.
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“So, at the end of the day, I wish them the best of luck in this runoff, and then whoever chooses – or whoever the people choose to go off into the general election, they will have my undying support on top of that, because we have got to keep Texas red,” he said.
Rep. Wesley Hunt Primary Night Remarks: “We the people and the people of Texas have spoken. Unfortunately, that person is not me.” pic.twitter.com/nu8cxJP6L0
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 4, 2026
With Hunt out of the race, the battle now turns to a bruising runoff between Cornyn and Paxton after neither candidate cleared the 50 percent threshold required to avoid a second round. The two Republicans will face off again in May.
The contest has already become one of the most expensive primaries in the country. Cornyn’s campaign and allied super PACs poured nearly $100 million into ads targeting both Paxton and Hunt.
In the final weeks of the race, Cornyn warned that Republicans could lose the seat if Paxton becomes the party’s nominee.
Cornyn allies and the National Republican Senatorial Committee repeatedly highlighted Paxton’s legal troubles and personal controversies, including years of investigations and a messy divorce.
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Paxton, a MAGA-aligned attorney general known for filing lawsuits against the Obama and Biden administrations, brushed off the attacks.
“I’m 3-0. I’ve won three statewide races,” Paxton told Fox News Digital on the eve of the primary.
Pointing to polls showing him leading Cornyn, Paxton added, “it’s really easy for him to say that when he’s losing a primary, because he’s not delivered for the people of Texas, and he’s going to find out tomorrow what that means. He’s going to end up losing.”
The Republican nominee will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, who is attempting to become the first Democrat in nearly four decades to win a Senate race in Texas.
The Texas contest is one of several closely watched Senate races that could shape control of the chamber in the midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority.
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