In a campaign push before all votes are cast in the Republican primary runoff election for U.S. Senate in Texas, candidate U.S. Sen. John Cornyn stopped in Corpus Christi to pitch himself as Republicans’ best chance in the race, also touting his attention to local issues.
His opponent for the Republican nomination is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who recently won the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
Cornyn greeted supporters at an event at the Corpus Christi Police Officers Association Hall on May 22, accompanied by law enforcement representatives and local leaders including Nueces County Judge Connie Scott, state Rep. Denise Villalobos, Nueces County Sheriff J.C. Hooper and Nueces County District Attorney Jimmy Granberry.
“Even though I’m proud to support President Trump’s policies and I voted with him 99.3% of the time — I am an ally to the president — but Texans get to choose our senator and no one else,” Cornyn said.
Paxton and Cornyn are in a runoff because neither won more than 50% of the votes during the Republican primary in March. Cornyn earned 42% while Paxton earned 40.5%. The Democratic side of the ballot was determined, with state Rep. James Talarico beating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
In Nueces County, Republican primary voters swung harder to Cornyn’s side. Cornyn won nearly 49% of the vote while Paxton won 38.33% of Republican votes in the county. However, about 2,000 more Democratic primary voters turned out in Nueces County for the Senate race than Republican primary voters.
Cornyn said that higher turnout in the Democratic primary statewide indicates Democrats “are pretty fired up and see an opportunity here in Texas.”
In his endorsement of Paxton, Trump complimented Cornyn but said that Cornyn “was very late” in backing him during his initial presidential campaign.
“Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate,” Trump wrote on social media.
In Corpus Christi, Cornyn and his supporters focused on integrity.
“We have to make integrity matter again,” Scott said, sharing that she was quoting a social media post by friend Dolly Gonzales Trolley, who is a local school board member.
Villalobos spoke during the event, stating that she had already voted for Cornyn. Villalobos said that Paxton had not been supportive of legislation she introduced in the Texas House to eliminate parole for convicted child traffickers until after it won the support of Gov. Greg Abbott and other state lawmakers.
“That is why I am strongly supporting Sen. John Cornyn,” Villalobos said, “because he fights for our children. He’s not afraid to put his name to protecting our children of Texas.”
During his tumultuous time as Texas attorney general, Paxton has been accused of misusing the powers of his office. In 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton during impeachment proceedings concerning allegations of corruption and bribery, though the majority of Texas House Republicans voted to impeach.
“I can tell you if Ken Paxton is at the top of the ballot, he will have no coattails,” Cornyn said. “He will be an albatross around the neck of all of our candidates.”
During the May 22 event, Cornyn pitched his connections to Corpus Christi, mentioning his visits to the Port of Corpus Christi with President Donald Trump in February and to the Corpus Christi Army Depot in March, as well as family connections. Cornyn has advocated for bringing more work to the depot.
“I was very encouraged, and I hope you are, that the depot will be revitalized and we’ll be able to keep all of those incredible artisans and talented people right here in town and to continue to grow and contribute to the prosperity of this great county and this great part of the state,” Cornyn said.
Speaking to the press after his remarks, Cornyn said he believes federal funding can be made available for Coastal Bend water projects “once the local stakeholders decide what the path forward is.”
“We stand by ready to do anything and everything we can to help,” Cornyn said.
Cornyn told the Caller-Times that the decision “can’t be made in Austin or Washington, D.C.,” but once locals “arrive at a consensus,” he believes there is federal money that can be made available for a solution.
“I know there’s been a lot of back-and-forth and some differences of opinion, but they’ve got to sort that out and then the federal government can come in and do its part,” Cornyn said.
Olivia Garrett covers education and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Here’s what Sen. John Cornyn said in Corpus Christi on primary runoff
Reporting by Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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