U.S. Senator John Cornyn has pushed back against claims that he worked with Democrats to pass gun control legislation in 2022, despite records showing he voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
The criticism resurfaced after Texas Gun Rights posted on X, “Speaking of shooting, remember when you teamed up with Biden to spearhead gun control legislation?”
Cornyn replied with a single word:
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) August 13, 2025
Cornyn was selected by then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to lead negotiations with Senate Democrats on the measure, according to KENS 5. At the time, Cornyn signaled his willingness to work on the bill, telling the Senate floor, “I expect there will be an informed debate about reforms we can make, and I look forward to participating in those discussions.”
Then-President Biden signed the bill into law in 2022. That same year, Cornyn was booed by attendees at the Republican Party of Texas convention.
Cornyn defended his work on the bill, telling The Texas Tribune, “This was fundamentally important to the country at a time when things are so polarized and people are so intolerant of others that have different points of view. I thought it was important to demonstrate the Senate could work.”
Conservatives have been quick to challenge Cornyn’s denial.
Blaze Media personality Sara Gonzalez asked, “Is John Cornyn senile, a liar, or both?”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Cornyn’s top challenger in the Republican primary, also took aim:
My promise to voters of Texas is that I will never be thanked by Joe Biden for helping him pass gun control legislation.
I wish John Cornyn could make the same promise. https://t.co/wnaGpzxSiy
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 14, 2025
A new Emerson College Poll released on August 15 shows the race has tightened considerably, with Cornyn and Paxton in a statistical tie among GOP primary voters — 30% backing Cornyn, 29% supporting Paxton, and 37% still undecided. The poll’s ±4.4% margin of error means the candidates are essentially neck and neck.
The survey also found that President Donald Trump holds a 73% approval rating among undecided GOP voters, making his potential endorsement a significant factor in the outcome.
The Dallas Express reached out to Cornyn’s office for comment but did not receive a response.