U.S. Sen. John Cornyn says he will continue skipping primary debates until a likely runoff, sharpening a dispute that rivals say amounts to avoiding voters.
John Cornyn is the senior United States Senator from Texas, having served since 2002. He is a Republican and is currently in his fourth term, which will end on January 3, 2027. He is running for re-election in the Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Cornyn is facing challengers, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt.
Cornyn stated he does not plan to participate in debates before the March 3 primary and would only consider doing so if the race proceeds to a runoff in late May. Cornyn made the remarks during a recent television interview with “Capital Tonight.”
“I don’t really see any real benefit to doing that at this point,” Cornyn reportedly said. “We’ll narrow down the field on March 3.”
Cornyn argued that the Republican primary is effectively a two-person contest between himself and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, dismissing U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston as “not a real factor.”
Cornyn said he would be “happy” to debate in a runoff but questioned whether Paxton would agree, adding, “So far he’s been pretty much in hiding, and I think there’s a real question whether he would want that debate.”
Cornyn’s position marks a clearer articulation of a strategy that has already drawn criticism from his Republican rivals. Earlier this month, Hunt accused Cornyn of running what he called a “basement campaign” by declining multiple debate invitations, arguing that voters were being denied a chance to see candidates challenged publicly, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
In that earlier reporting, Hunt told The Dallas Express that Cornyn had declined three debate offers and was relying instead on heavy television advertising. Paxton’s representatives also criticized Cornyn’s refusal to debate, with a spokesman telling DX that the incumbent was avoiding scrutiny.
Cornyn’s recent comments appear to confirm that he does not intend to reverse course before the primary.
Hunt responded sharply, saying in a statement that “John Cornyn won’t debate because he can’t,” and adding that Texans are “done with politicians who dodge voters,” according to Spectrum News 1.
Recent polls have shown Cornyn and Paxton nearly tied, with Hunt trailing but still drawing enough support to deny either a majority and trigger a runoff.
Cornyn said he remains hopeful of an endorsement from President Donald Trump, despite reports that Trump may stay out of several Republican Senate primaries.
“There’s one person who will make that decision, and it’s President Trump,” Cornyn said on “Capital Tonight.”
