New Poll: Yikes! John Cornyn in Serious Trouble Against GOP Opponents in Texas Senate Showdown

Senator John Cornyn is facing a full-blown revolt within his own party, according to newly released polling, which found Texas Republicans are overwhelmingly unimpressed with his leadership and eager to back his GOP challengers.

In a survey of 527 likely Republican primary voters conducted by Public Policy Polling on behalf of Senate Majority PAC, Cornyn’s approval rating has cratered to just 29%, while his opponents, Rep. Wesley Hunt (+20) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (+13) are viewed far more favorably.

Cornyn’s leadership deficit is undeniable: Only 25% of voters consider him a “strong leader,” while nearly half (49%) view him as weak. That perception is driving a volatile primary landscape where Paxton leads a three-way race at 32%, with Cornyn and Hunt tied at just 22% apiece. In a head-to-head matchup, Cornyn falls even further behind: 44% of Republican voters back Paxton, while only 34% choose Cornyn. The numbers are even more abysmal for a head-to-head with Hunt: 45% of voters say they more likely to support to him to Cornyn’s 28%.

Cornyn’s problem is especially stark among loyal Trump voters, a group that overwhelmingly approves of the former president’s job performance (78%). Among this core GOP base, 41% say Cornyn is too liberal and 41% say he does not vote often enough for Donald Trump’s agenda.

“John Cornyn is limping into what may be the ugliest primary in the country, and the numbers don’t lie. Republican voters are ready to toss him aside,” said Senate Majority PAC Spokesperson Christyna Thompson. “This race is a circular firing squad, and the GOP will waste millions tearing themselves apart just to end up with a battered nominee.”

The full poll results can be viewed here.

The survey was conducted by Public Policy Polling from December 1–2, 2025, and includes responses from 527 likely GOP primary voters reached by phone and text.