Star-Telegram endorsement: Republicans’ choice between Cornyn, Paxton for Senate
Sen. John Cornyn’s political problem in his quest for a fifth term is the mirror image of why he’s valuable to Texas.
Cornyn is a steady, reliable conservative who is more effective in the Senate than he is firing up a campaign crowd. His style doesn’t inspire the adoration (or contempt) that a fiery Donald Trump does, but it gets things done that matter to the state.
Voters should value his tenure, position as a Senate leader and ability to deliver for Texas. Cornyn deserves the Republican nomination for another term — especially in light of his opponents.
There has always been a portion of the hard-right GOP base that questions how red Cornyn’s political blood runs. Such voters point to attempts earlier in his career to find sweeping solutions to illegal immigration or hamper gun crime without impinging the rights of law-abiding firearms enthusiasts.
Fair, but casting him as a liberal is absurd. Ask Democrats who have negotiated with Cornyn if they consider him an ally on the left.
He’s not progressive; he’s effective. Some don’t seem to understand the difference. They think volume and anger win elections. Sometimes that’s the case, but it doesn’t add up a lot of policy victories.
The risk of taking John Cornyn off Texas ballot
Then there’s this: Cornyn has never had to break a sweat to win his Senate seat. The recent Tarrant County special legislative victory by an unknown Democrat should have alerted Republicans that this year isn’t 2022 or 2024. With Trump at the top of the ticket, Democrats are energized, and many independents are angry enough about the direction of the country to consider turning their back on 30 years of Texas GOP rule.
Republicans should think about the risk here. If Democrats take control of the Senate — and an unexpected Texas win might guarantee it — Trump’s presidency is effectively over. Any chance to lock in conservative victories along the lines of the “big, beautiful bill” of last year will be gone.
Put a crack in the Texas red wall and Democrats will incessantly chip away at it.
Is Ken Paxton worth all that?
Even if you agree with him 100% on substance and consider him Trump’s greatest ally, he is simply not fit for higher office.
His impeachment proved his corruption. The lack of political will to convict him in the Republican state Senate does not change the fact that he put the Office of Attorney General — which belongs to all of us, not Paxton — at the service of a donor and friend. He violated his oath of office and the one he swore upon getting married.
Stories of his mismanagement and neglect of the vital state operation he’s overseen for nearly 12 years abound.
Ken Paxton’s approach isn’t conservative
If all that isn’t enough for some Republicans, they should consider: Is this conservatism?
Paxton has stretched state power to such an extent that if a Democrat did it, Republicans would cry tyranny. He’s gone after every manner of business, university, city, school district and political or citizen group.
He’s ramped it up as he’s run for Senate. Every day brings an announcement of some slight that Paxton sees as the state’s purview to address. The supposed violations he cites essentially add up to whether you have offended Ken Paxton’s sensibilities in some way.
Plus, he doesn’t necessarily win on the merits. He intimidates, flinging red tape and threats until he achieves some modest surrender — and then claims it as a great victory. That doesn’t advance the conservative cause.
Then, there’s Wesley Hunt. The Houston-area congressman is an impressive individual with an admirable record of service. But his candidacy is largely a sideshow. Only he and his advisers know whether he genuinely thought he could surpass the two titans running or merely wanted to gain some kind of political leverage by ensuring Paxton and Cornyn go to a runoff.
The best thing that could be said about Hunt is that he offers voters who align themselves with Paxton on issues and approach a candidate without the attorney general’s scandalous baggage.
If Texans elect a senator primarily on how much that person can show fealty to Trump, it will be a mistake. He’ll be an ex-president in less than three years, and the next senator will face many more issues and decisions, including some we can’t currently anticipate. Judgment, morality and ability should matter.
Cornyn has displayed them. Paxton has not.
Early voting starts Feb. 17 and ends Feb. 27. Election Day is March 3. Five additional candidates are on the ballot, but none is mounting a serious campaign.
A runoff, if necessary, will be held May 26.
About our campaign endorsements
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.
This story was originally published February 16, 2026 at 4:26 AM.