“The last of the gentlemen Republicans”: John Cornyn’s four-decade political career ends with a MAGA uprising
John Cornyn, a four-term U.S. senator and former Texas Supreme Court justice, lost his primary election to Attorney General Ken Paxton after decades in public office, marking the end of his political career amid a shift in Texas Republican politics toward Trump loyalty. Cornyn’s defeat followed his bipartisan efforts on gun safety legislation and criticism of Trump’s 2020 election claims, which alienated MAGA-aligned voters and led to his labeling as a 'RINO' by Trump supporters.
John Cornyn, a four-term U.S. senator from Texas, lost his primary election on Tuesday, ending a four-decade political career that spanned roles as a state Supreme Court justice and Texas attorney general. His defeat came at the hands of Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch Trump ally, despite Cornyn’s near-perfect alignment with Trump’s agenda and his position as the second-most powerful Republican in the Senate. Cornyn’s political trajectory began as a moderate Republican, known for bipartisan efforts like negotiating the 2022 gun safety bill after the Uvalde school shooting, where he secured 14 Senate Republican votes. However, his bipartisan approach and later comments—including suggesting Trump’s 'time has passed by' in 2023—alienated MAGA supporters. Trump branded him a 'RINO' (Republican in Name Only), and Cornyn was booed at the 2022 Texas GOP convention for his moderate stance. The primary battle between Cornyn and Paxton intensified after Cornyn criticized Paxton’s 2023 impeachment as an embarrassment to the party. Paxton, a Trump loyalist, capitalized on grassroots support, while Cornyn struggled to connect with Texas Republicans increasingly prioritizing loyalty to Trump over institutional politics. Cornyn’s loss reflects broader shifts in the Republican Party, where Trump’s influence has reshaped priorities. Despite his record—including voting to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory—Cornyn’s perceived detachment from the base proved fatal. His defeat marks the end of an era for a politician who once bridged divides but ultimately fell victim to the party’s MAGA-driven transformation.
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