Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt told CBS News he’s running for the U.S. Senate because it’s time for a new generation of leadership. A West Point graduate and former Apache pilot who flew combat missions in Baghdad, Hunt said he will commit to serving only two terms — 12 years — arguing incumbent Sen. John Cornyn has held the seat too long and lost touch with primary voters.
Hunt criticized Cornyn for co-authoring legislation on guns and for supporting policies he said weakened border security, including admitting tens of thousands of Afghan migrants without what Hunt called proper vetting. He emphasized that Texas is Trump country and that Cornyn failed to align quickly with former President Trump, which hurt Cornyn’s standing with primary voters. Hunt noted Cornyn had spent large sums on prior races yet remained vulnerable.
When asked about the third major Republican in the race, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Hunt said Paxton is a conservative but raised concerns about Paxton’s age and longevity in office. Hunt recounted a voter in Amarillo who said she preferred Hunt because Paxton will soon be older and might prompt a repeat of the same succession conversation. Hunt also called Paxton a career politician and said the state wants new leadership.
On whether personal conduct matters in the race, Hunt said personal life is up to voters and up to the God an individual serves; he framed his campaign around policy and his own qualifications.
Hunt addressed his attendance record in Congress by noting that he missed votes early in his term because of a sick child in the NICU and later because he served as a surrogate during President Trump’s campaign. He said he’s spent recent months on the campaign trail — holding more than 50 events and 200 interviews — and argued that campaigning and meeting voters justifies some missed roll-call votes. Hunt promised his attendance would be “fantastic” if elected to the Senate and pledged to be present for consequential votes that advance the Trump agenda, while acknowledging he might miss some routine roll-call votes.
On the State of the Union, Hunt said he was moved by two Medal of Honor recipients who received recognition. As a military veteran and West Point graduate, he emphasized his respect for service and said leadership should rise above partisan politics, especially on matters of American safety.
Economy and energy were key issues for Hunt. He proposed making Texas the “energy senator” to lower costs nationally by increasing production. He advocated more drilling and all-hands support for energy, including nuclear, arguing that energy is an input to everything in the economy and that increasing American energy production would reduce prices for consumers.
Regarding tensions with Iran, Hunt said he trusts President Trump’s foreign policy judgment and supports a “peace through strength” approach. He praised Trump’s record on deterring adversaries and sought to reassure voters that a strong military and technological edge can prevent larger conflicts. Hunt said he would back the president’s decisions on military action when warranted.
Hunt repeatedly returned to the message that voters want younger leaders who will not become career politicians. He committed publicly to term limits — two terms for the Senate — and criticized the idea of 24-year incumbencies as a form of losing touch with Texan voters. He also highlighted his early endorsement of Trump and suggested that if Trump had endorsed Cornyn early, Hunt might not have entered the race.
On the general election, Hunt said he was already polling better against likely Democratic opponents than Cornyn and Paxton, arguing his youth and vigor would inspire turnout in November. He acknowledged primary dynamics — such as earlier turnout patterns — but insisted Texas remains strongly Republican and that a vigorous GOP nominee would be competitive.
Throughout the interview Hunt framed himself as a West Point–trained veteran, a conservative committed to term limits, a proponent of energy expansion to lower costs, and a candidate who would bring a new generation’s perspective to the Senate. He emphasized Texas pride and a service mindset as core to his candidacy.