A longtime Republican heavyweight is putting his support behind incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’ U.S. Senate GOP primary runoff.
In an opinion piece for The Washington Times, Newt Gingrich — former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a key force in taking control of Congress for Republicans in 1994 — called Cornyn, R-Texas, “one of the most effective conservative legislators of the modern era.”
“In Washington, there are two kinds of people: those who want to be something, and those who want to do something,” Gingrich wrote. “John has always been in the latter camp.”
“His record is not one of mere rhetoric,” he added, “but of tangible victories that have made Texas and the United States stronger.”
Gingrich hailed Cornyn as a “foundational architect” of handing Republicans control of the U.S. Supreme Court and called him a “relentless advocate for the economic engine of the South.”
“Whether it was the historic tax cuts of 2017, the passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act last year or his work to ensure that domestic energy producers can compete globally, John has been a steady hand,” he wrote. “He doesn’t just vote the right way; he builds the coalitions necessary to move the needle.”
Absent from Gingrich’s endorsement was Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is currently engaged in a heated primary battle with Cornyn. The winner of the May 26 primary runoff will advance to the November General Election to face state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin.
While Cornyn has had ample success with Republican powerbrokers, Paxton continues to lead polls with roughly a month to go before the election. For Gingrich, however, Cornyn represents a tried-and-true politician able to keep Republicans afloat heading into a crucial midterm election.
“Now is the time for stability and proven leadership,” Gingrich concluded. “I urge my fellow conservatives to look at the scoreboard and the record of accomplishment. Join me in supporting John Cornyn. He has been a champion for our values for years, and he is the leader we need to secure victory in the pivotal years ahead.”
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Newt Gingrich endorses John Cornyn in Texas Senate GOP runoff election
Reporting by Adam Powell, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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