Some Republican operatives hope Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) is the candidate who could keep a Texas Senate seat red in the 2026 midterm elections, as Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) chances of winning reelection remain shaky.

While Cornyn has held the seat for over two decades, he has faced rising opposition from conservatives in recent years due to accusations that he is a Republican in name only, or “RINO.” Political operatives in the state have warned that neither Cornyn nor his primary challenger, longtime foe Ken Paxton, will be able to keep the Senate seat red. Polling shows that while the Texas attorney general could best the senator in the primary, he could lose to a Democrat in the general election.