U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt is positioning himself as one of the few staunch ‘America First’ voices in the U.S. Senate amid a reshuffling of key Republican seats.

Hunt, a Houston Republican congressman and West Point graduate, is challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the 2026 primary, joining a heated contest with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Hunt emphasized his youth, military service, and early endorsement of President Donald Trump as key factors setting him apart.

“People just want a real conservative who was the first person in the country to endorse President Trump… West Point grad who checks the block for Patriots in the state of Texas,” Hunt said in an interview with The Dallas Express.

With several Senate America First allies expected to leave the chamber if elected governor, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Hunt said he could help fill a growing void in the upper chamber.

“Absolutely, potentially,” he said when asked if the America First movement could be at risk if he is not elected. Hunt added that Trump is withholding endorsements from three incumbents — Cornyn, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) — which he said reflects their records as “not America First patriots.”

Hunt’s comments came just before Politico independently reported that Trump has no plans to endorse the three senators.

Hunt noted that AI regulation, H-1B visas, and tech investments are issues that he is prepared to tackle.

“Bottom line is we have talent right here in our own country that we need to be putting to good use,” he said, supporting reforms or a phaseout of the H-1B program. On AI data centers, Hunt stressed balancing energy growth with affordability: “We cannot sacrifice the affordability of power for everyday Americans,” citing Texas’s energy resources and supporting increasing energy production to drive down costs.

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Hunt also discussed potential federal AI regulations, emphasizing the need for a careful balance between innovation, free speech, and public safety. Hunt recounted how AI was used in a Cornyn campaign commercial depicting him running away from important issues, saying his young child was concerned after seeing the footage on television.

Shortly after the DX interview, Paxton’s campaign released an AI-generated ad featuring Cornyn and Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Democratic Senate contender, dancing together.

 

In a potential general election matchup, Hunt said he could contrast sharply with Crockett.

“Young people like she and I, we are going to be the future of both of our parties… let the people of Texas see where my vision is for the future of this country and the state of Texas and her vision and let them decide,” he said.

While Cornyn has received considerable criticism from Hunt in recent months, Cornyn has returned fire. Team Cornyn, the official campaign X account for the incumbent’s re-election bid, recently taunted Hunt about his voting attendance in the House of Representatives.

 

The Dallas Express previously asked Hunt about a National Review analysis that alleged he missed approximately 18.7% of House roll-call votes during the period under review. He said the absences were due to his son’s hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit and his role as a national surrogate for Trump during the 2024 presidential election.

Hunt concluded the DX interview by reiterating his commitment to Texas and national service.

“I am a very proud Texan that’s looking forward to serving in the halls of the Senate,” Hunt told DX.