President Donald Trump highlights the administration’s affordability efforts, a key Senate race gains a new wrinkle in Texas, and mainstream science erupts at a new government memo on vaccines.
It’s Wednesday, December 10, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-251210-member-exclusive">video version can be seen on The Daily Wire</a>:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Kicks Off Economy Tour</h2>
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Topline: President Trump is hitting the road to tout his economic progress as Americans remain pessimistic about affordability and the cost of living.
Since retaking office, many of the president’s most high-profile road trips have been abroad to meet with foreign leaders and lock down peace deals and trade agreements. But with midterms fast approaching and affordability remaining the top issue for voters, he’s launching a nationwide tour to tout his economic record and address voter concerns on affordability.
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For years now, Republicans have dominated on the topic, with poll after poll showing voters prefer their handling of the economy over Democrats. But goodwill from Trump’s first term has not carried over, as Republicans now trail Democrats on the economy.
Last month’s electoral results in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York were seemingly a wake-up call for the White House. It’s not just that Democrats won handily, but it’s the fact that they won by attacking President Trump’s economy and focusing on affordability. Now the president has held a series of meetings with his top advisers to devise a new messaging strategy to convince voters that he’s taking the right course ahead of the midterms.
Trump appeared in Pennsylvania for the first of what the White House says will be a string of events focused primarily on affordability.
Trump is in a tough political spot. On the one hand, he takes great pride in his economic prowess and his role as a sort of businessman-in-chief. But if he continues insisting that things are going great, he risks coming off as out of touch and angering folks.
A Fox News poll this month found that 76% of voters view the economy negatively, while POLITICO found that even 37% of Trump voters say the cost of living is the worst they’ve ever seen.
For his part, the president reportedly feels the issue is perception, and that Republicans must step up their efforts to highlight the progress they’re making.
“We gave you an extension of the biggest tax cuts and the biggest tax cuts ever, even bigger than the first term, and that&#8217;s one of the reasons that your 401(k)s are through the roof. It&#8217;s one of the reasons that the stock market is at the highest point,” said Trump Tuesday evening. “Rent prices are down, dairy prices are coming down very strongly. The cost of Thanksgiving turkeys was down by 33% compared to the Biden era. That&#8217;s a good start. We&#8217;re bringing it down and we&#8217;re coming down more. We&#8217;re coming down a lot more.”
President Trump also touted the progress made so far in lowering the cost of gas and eggs, which reached historic highs in recent years. 
“We&#8217;re down lower than we&#8217;ve been in seven years. And gasoline prices in oil prices, not just the three states that I talk about with 1.99 a gallon,” said Trump. “  What about eggs? … The price of eggs is down now 80% since March. Think of that.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Shootout For Texas Senate Seat</h2>
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Topline: A Texas Senate race is already heating up as candidates for both parties jockey for the chance to win the key seat, and some notable names are shaking things up.
A new Democrat challenger: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is jumping into the race. Crockett is a sound-bite factory, so prepare to see some major developments out of the U.S. Senate race in Texas.
Former Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) dropped out of the race earlier on Monday while signaling that Crockett was going to get in. Meanwhile, state Rep. James Talarico is maintaining that he is going to stay in the contest on the Democratic side.
Texas is a red state, but with the 2026 election, Democrats are feeling a bit cocky about their shot at winning that seat and many others, if possible.
Crockett’s impact: The NRCC, or the Republican arm focused on House elections, is already touting that Crockett could potentially be the Democratic nominee. What that means for down-ballot races is that moderate Democrats will face a choice: whether to embrace Crockett and risk being painted as radicals by Republicans, or to push away from Crockett and risk pushback from Democrats.
Either way, Republicans will likely try to paint Crockett as the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party in Texas.
GOP’s packed primary: On the Republican side, it&#8217;s a complicated primary. Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is running, as well as state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) is also in the race.
Cornyn is backed by the NRC, the official party arm that defends incumbent GOP senators. Paxton, Hunt, and Cornyn are all vying for Trump&#8217;s endorsement. But the president has not yet picked a favorite.
Hunt and Paxton have both portrayed themselves as the better option to stand with Trump and carry out the president’s agenda. But there is a highly volatile dynamic in the race, and polling shows the contest is incredibly close.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">FDA Revamps Vaccine Standards</h2>
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Topline: The FDA is implementing tougher standards for vaccines, a move riling up the medical establishment.
Reports circulated this week about an internal memo from Dr. Vinay Prasad, director of the FDA’s vaccine division, proposing an overhaul of how vaccines are evaluated and approved, initiating tougher standards. The new process would include full randomized clinical trials even for updated or routine vaccines, such as the flu shot.
The trials would allow evaluation of real-world protection, not just antibody levels, as well as side-effect rates and additional information for risk-benefit analysis. Currently, officials rely primarily on immune-response data, such as antibody levels from small groups of people.
Notably, this memo cited at least 10 children who died “after and because of” receiving COVID vaccines. That is apparently driving this new direction for tougher vaccine approvals. 
How it&#8217;s playing: Twelve former FDA officials denounced the memo in an editorial, claiming that it casts doubt on vaccine safety. They claim these new standards reject “long-standing science” and say it will slow innovation. Former FDA head Dr. Scott Gottlieb appeared on CBS News and <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1997844527353409711">said</a> Prasad’s new procedures could hamper vaccine effectiveness.
Trump admin response: The Department of Health and Human Services stands by Dr. Prasad and these new standards. An HHS spokesperson took a swipe at the “resistance” editorial, saying, “The fact these criticisms are coming from former FDA officials who opposed raising the bar for vaccine science confirms we are on the right track.”
HHS press secretary Emily Hilliard told Morning Wire that the American people “deserve evidence-based science,” and said Dr. Prasad’s email “lays out a philosophical framework that points us toward that higher standard.”
Hilliard also said HHS will “soon release documents laying out that framework,” as well as data confirming how the COVID vaccine resulted in children’s deaths that previous leadership failed to investigate properly.

MRN_251210_V2

Morning Brief: Trump Touts Affordability, Lone Star Senate Showdown, & Vax Standards Revised

Morning Brief: Trump’s Economy Tour, TX Senate Race, And FDA Revamps Vax Standards

Donald Trump

Economy

Jasmine Crockett

John Cornyn

Ken Paxton

Morning Wire

Pennsylvania

Texas

Vaccines

Over two dozen Republican senators are backing an effort from Texas Senator John Cornyn to toughen the punishment for criminals who violently attack enforcement officers, The Daily Wire has learned. 
On Thursday, Cornyn will introduce the “Back the Blue Act” to increase the penalties for murdering or attempting to murder law enforcement while also expanding self-defense rights for police officers. The proposal has significant support from fellow Republicans, with over 31 signing on to co-sponsor.
“Our law enforcement officers bravely risk their lives daily to protect our communities, and anyone who targets them should be met with the full force of the law, including the death penalty,” he told The Daily Wire. “America was built on the principles of law and order, and this legislation sends a clear message that targeted attacks on law enforcement will not be tolerated, dangerous criminals will be held accountable, and our men and women in blue have our full and unwavering support.”
The legislation would create a new federal crime for killing or attempting to kill a federal judge, a federal law enforcement officer, or other federally funded public safety officer. If an officer dies, the murderer would be subject to the death penalty and a mandatory 30 years in prison, according to Cornyn’s office. The proposal would make attempted murder or murder an aggravating factor when considering the death penalty as well. 
Penalties for assaulting federal law enforcement would also increase, as would the punishment for fleeing across state lines to avoid prosecution for attacking law enforcement.  The proposal would also impose time limits on when a federal court can review the state-level conviction of someone who murdered a police officer in the line of duty. 
Law enforcement officers would also be given the ability to carry their firearms into federal facilities and other areas where gun possession is typically restricted, according to Cornyn’s office. 
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The legislation is backed by major law enforcement organizations like the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.
Cornyn’s proposal of the bill comes as he faces a contentious GOP primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Sen. John Cornyn

‘Back The Blue’: Senators Demand Death Penalty For Cop Killers

Crime

Death Penalty

Law Enforcement

Police

The FBI will help track down the Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas in a bid to stop their state legislature from enacting a GOP redistricting plan, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said on Thursday.
Cornyn made the announcement two days after sending a <a href="https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Letter-to-FBI-on-Texas-Legislators.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting that the bureau help Texas state law enforcement locate or arrest the Democrats after they potentially broke the law.
&#8220;I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,&#8221; Cornyn said in a <a href="https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/fbi-grants-cornyn-request-to-hold-fleeing-texas-legislators-accountable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas. We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.&#8221;
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment when The Daily Wire reached out to the bureau.
President Donald Trump is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-gop-can-get-five-more-house-seats-redistricting-just-one-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing</a> Texas and other states to redraw their congressional maps with the expectation that Republicans would gain seats. In retaliation, Democrats have rallied for mid-decade redistricting in blue states. Shifting lines could give either party an edge in the 2026 midterm elections.
Dozens of Democratic Texas state lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-dems-cant-win-redistricting-fight-so-they-bravely-turn-tail-and-flee-the-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went AWOL</a> over the weekend with a stated purpose of preventing the state legislature from passing a new redistricting plan that could lead to Republicans gaining as many as five seats in the U.S. House. They are doing so by denying the quorum needed to conduct business for a special session.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has <a href="https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-orders-texas-department-of-public-safety-to-arrest-delinquent-house-democrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordered</a> the arrest of the Democrats who have refused to return and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abbott-moves-to-oust-democrat-who-led-texas-walkout-stunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed</a> suit to remove Democrat House Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office after he led the walkout effort.
In his letter to Patel, Cornyn wrote, &#8220;Abbott and Texas state law enforcement officers are doing what they can within the confines of the law, but federal help may be necessary. These legislators have committed potential criminal acts in their rush to avoid their constitutional responsibilities and must be fully investigated and held accountable.&#8221;
Cornyn made the request for FBI support as he runs for another six-year term in the Senate. He is facing a primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/5437325-texas-democrats-paxton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> that he will begin removing the Democratic lawmakers from office if they do not meet a Friday deadline set by the state House speaker. Paxton also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beto-orourkes-pac-bankrolls-texas-democrats-escape-from-redistricting-standoff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> an investigation into a group led by Democrat Beto O&#8217;Rourke that is bankrolling the runaway Democrats.
Democrats have criticized the GOP&#8217;s reaction to what they argue is an effort to stop gerrymandering. That includes former Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), who is also running in the 2026 Senate race against Cornyn and Paxton after losing to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in a 2024 contest.
&#8220;This isn&#8217;t about &#8216;locating&#8217; anyone — they&#8217;re not hiding,&#8221; Allred said in a <a href="https://x.com/ColinAllredTX/status/1953463307433545882" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X in response to Cornyn&#8217;s announcement on Thursday. &#8220;It&#8217;s about silencing dissent and weaponizing law enforcement. Cornyn is deputizing the FBI and Paxton is trying to expel lawmakers because they&#8217;re both too weak and corrupt to stand up to Washington. Enough is enough — Texans deserve better.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-nationwide-redistricting-war-is-brewing-this-bill-seeks-to-stop-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: A Nationwide &#8216;Redistricting War&#8217; Is Brewing. This Bill Seeks To Stop It.</a>

FBI Assisting Texas In Hunt For ‘Runaway’ Democrats, GOP Senator Says

FBI Assisting Texas In Hunt For 'Runaway' Democrats, GOP Senator Says

Congress

kash patel

Politics

Redistricting

Senate Democrats spurned a <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/unfit-to-serve-how-the-biden-cover-up-endangered-america-and-undermined-the-constitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing</a> on Wednesday on the &#8220;cover-up&#8221; of President Joe Biden&#8217;s mental state when he was in the White House, a boycott which Republicans took to be a confession of guilt.
All but two Judiciary Committee Democrats skipped the event, which featured testimony from former Trump White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and others. Ranking member Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) each departed after they got a chance to speak, casting the proceedings as being a waste of time, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/06/18/congress/dems-boycott-hearing-probing-bidens-fitness-00412461" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLITICO</a>.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) took a swipe at the Democrats after Durbin left the room.
&#8220;I will note that few of my Democratic colleagues are here today — thank you to Sen. Welch from Vermont for being here — leaving us with no other option than to take the boycotting of this hearing as an admission of guilt for their role in this crisis,&#8221; Cornyn said.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) made a similar observation.
&#8220;Given [Biden&#8217;s] mental incapacity, the American people deserve to know who was running the country for the last four years,&#8221; Schmitt declared. &#8220;Today, as we seek to answer this question, it is deeply disappointing but not surprising that most Democrats on this committee have chosen to all but boycott the hearing and have failed to call a single witness.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;They have chosen to ignore this issue like they ignored President Biden&#8217;s decline. Their absence speaks volumes — an implicit admission that the truth is too inconvenient to face. By refusing to engage in this critical examination, they abdicate their responsibility to the American people. This de facto boycott is not just a refusal to participate; it&#8217;s a refusal to serve the American people, who deserve answers about who was truly leading their government.&#8221;
There were others who did the same.
&#8220;Not a single Democrat is here today because not a single one of them gives a damn about the fact that they lied to the American people for four years,&#8221; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1935380979419349284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;They knew, every one of them knew, that Joe Biden was mentally not competent to do the job.&#8221;
Spicer, who now hosts his own show, also <a href="https://x.com/seanspicershow/status/1935375576614785329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> the Democrats for being absent.
Durbin used his time during the hearing to show clips of President Donald Trump&#8217;s remarks over the years to suggest that his cognitive ability was in doubt. The video included comments about Haitian migrants eating pets, having &#8220;concepts of a plan,&#8221; and more.
&#8220;Senate Judiciary Republicans are holding a sham hearing now,&#8221; the Democrats on the panel claimed in a <a href="https://x.com/JudiciaryDems/status/1935344992282886363" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X that had the supercut of Trump. &#8220;If you want to talk about a President’s state of mind, consider this mess. We’re focused on the critical challenges facing our nation. Back to business.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Senate hearing on who was really running Biden&#039;s White House" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1C6ZWPBJitQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Former US President Joe Biden

Dems Duck Hearing On Biden’s Mental Fitness: ‘Admission Of Guilt’

Dick Durbin

Eric Schmitt

Joe Biden

U.S. Senate

Texas Senator John Cornyn introduced a bill Tuesday that would end all federal funding for transgender procedures on both children and adults.
The Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act would ensure that no dollars from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) pay for transgender medical procedures, like removing the breasts of girls who identify as boys, or the administration of cross-sex hormones.
“Texas taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for dangerous and often debilitating ‘gender transition’ procedures that are driven by radical ideology masquerading as health care,” Cornyn told The Daily Wire.
The text of the proposal, also sponsored by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), follows the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/long-overdue-house-republicans-vote-to-end-federal-funding-for-transgender-procedures?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Long+Overdue%E2%80%99%3A+House+Republicans+Vote+To+End+Federal+Funding+For+Transgender+Procedures">same lines</a> as the “one, big, beautiful” bill passed by the House, which also ends all funding for transgender procedures. 
Cornyn said that he would fight to ensure that the Senate’s version of the reconciliation spending bill would cut funding for transgender procedures like the House. His introduction of the bill comes as he faces a contentious primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton, also a firm opponent of transgender procedures. 
President Donald Trump made opposing transgender ideology a key plank of his 2024 platform, a position that proved popular with both Republicans and independents. In January, he signed an executive order slashing federal funding for entities that perform transgender procedures on minors. 
A recent review by the Department of Health and Human Services found that the arguments for transgender procedures on minors were not backed by scientific evidence. 
“The ‘gender-affirming’ model of care includes irreversible endocrine and surgical interventions on minors with no physical pathology,” the review summary <a href="https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/gender-dysphoria-report-exec-summary.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “These interventions carry risk of significant harms including infertility/sterility, sexual dysfunction, impaired bone density accrual, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret.”
Over two dozen states, including Texas and Oklahoma, have enacted laws protecting kids from transgender procedures.
“Before they can vote, drive, or get a tattoo, some children are pushed into irreversible gender-transition procedures with no proven long-term health benefit,” Lankford said. “These treatments can cause lasting harm, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund them.”
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-sen-marshall-urges-gop-to-end-funding-for-trans-surgeries">introduced</a> a similar bill last month that would also defund transgender procedures by amending the IRS code to no longer consider the life-altering procedures as health care.

US Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

EXCLUSIVE: Senate GOP Proposal Would End Federal Funding For ‘Genital Mutilation’ Procedures

James Lankford

Senate

transgender surgery

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced on Wednesday that he intended to stop two of President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominees for U.S. attorney positions in New York.
The move hinges on the &#8220;blue slip&#8221; tradition in which home-state senators can effectively block a nominee if they do not support the individual.
&#8220;Donald Trump has made clear he has no fidelity to the law and intends to use the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney offices and law enforcement as weapons to go after his perceived enemies,&#8221; Schumer said in a <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-uses-blue-slip-to-block-trump-us-attorney-nominees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
He added, &#8220;Such blatant and depraved political motivations are deeply corrosive to the rule of law and leaves me deeply skeptical of the [sic] Donald Trump’s intentions for these important positions. For that reason, I will not return the blue slip for the U.S. Attorney nominees for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.&#8221;
The affected nominees are former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, picked to become U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Joseph Nocella Jr., a Long Island judge chosen for U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
If Republicans on the Judiciary Committee choose to disregard Schumer, they could advance the nominees. However, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) appears unwilling to depart from the norm.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/us/schumer-trump-new-york-prosecutors.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Grassley affirming, &#8220;The answer is yes,&#8221; when asked about adhering to the blue slip tradition. &#8220;If they are from the state the nomination comes from.&#8221;
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), a member of the judiciary panel, told the news outlet that the blue slip tradition &#8220;serves a useful purpose even when in Democratic hands.&#8221; He added, &#8220;Obviously we value the ability to, appropriately, stop some nominees.&#8221;
Democrats have employed another tactic to stymie a different U.S. attorney nominee.
Earlier this month, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) <a href="https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/statement-sen-schiff-announces-hold-on-d-c-u-s-attorney-nominee-ed-martin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> that he would place a hold on the nomination of Ed Martin to be U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, a role he currently serves in an interim capacity.
A hold requires Senate majority leadership to schedule a floor vote for a nominee, bypassing the faster unanimous consent process.
Trump allies have sounded the alarm.
Responding to a post on X about Senate Democrats obstructing Trump&#8217;s picks for top prosecutor roles, his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., <a href="https://x.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1912490445818511451" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;We can&#8217;t let the swamp block my father&#8217;s picks for US Attorney!!!&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Schumer Intervenes To Block Two Of Trump’s U.S. Attorney Nominees

Chuck Grassley

Chuck Schumer

New York

Presidential nomination

U.S. attorneys

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that he will challenge Senator John Cornyn in 2026, citing the Texas Republican’s frequent opposition to President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Paxton made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News&#8217; “The Ingraham Angle,&#8221; telling host Laura Ingraham that &#8220;it&#8217;s definitely time for a change in Texas.&#8221;
&#8220;We have a great U.S. Senator, Ted Cruz, and it&#8217;s time we have another great senator that will actually stand up for Republican values, fight for the values of the people of Texas, and also support Donald Trump in the areas he&#8217;s focused on, in a very significant way,&#8221; Paxton said. &#8220;That&#8217;s what I plan on doing.&#8221;
Paxton told Ingraham it was &#8220;hard to think of the things&#8221; Cornyn has &#8220;done good for Texas or for the country,&#8221; slamming the senator for &#8220;things like his gun restrictions, his lack of wanting to fund a border wall, and even opposing President Trump&#8217;s election in 2016 and in the most recent election.&#8221;
&#8220;There&#8217;s certainly many things to focus on that he has not done,&#8221; Paxton added, &#8220;and I think it&#8217;s time that somebody held him accountable for that.&#8221;
The attorney general also railed against Cornyn in a statement announcing his run, in which he pledged to “take a sledgehammer to the D.C. establishment.”
“John Cornyn has been in Washington for over two decades, and he has turned his back on President Trump and the America First Agenda time after time.”
“Texans deserve far better than a senator who thinks it’s ‘naive’ to build a border to protect our citizens,&#8221; Paxton said.
Paxton, who has served three terms as attorney general, has frequently criticized Cornyn. In a March interview with Punchbowl News, Paxton <a href="https://punchbowl.news/article/senate/paxton-plots-to-take-on-cornyn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slammed</a> Cornyn for pushing gun control legislation and supporting American aid to Ukraine.
“I’m going to start calling him ‘Senator Ukraine,’ because he’s funding Ukraine more than he’s funding our border, and that’s a problem in Texas,” Paxton said.
Paxton has emerged as a leading voice on major issues, using his office to protect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-texas-ag-investigating-school-officials-who-said-theyd-break-the-law?row=0&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;author=Tim+Rice&amp;title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Texas+AG+Launches+Probe+Into+Schools+Scheming+To+Get+Boys+Onto+Girl+Sports+Teams&amp;category=News">women&#8217;s sports,</a> defending Texas A&amp;M&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-texas-ag-to-defend-texas-am-over-decision-to-ban-campus-drag-shows?row=0&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Texas+AG+To+Defend+Texas+A%26M+Over+Decision+To+Ban+Campus+Drag+Shows&amp;category=News">decision</a> to ban a campus drag show, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-arrests-48-year-old-woman-for-performing-illegal-abortions-operating-fake-clinics?row=0&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;title=Texas+Arrests+48-Year-Old+Woman+For+Performing+Illegal+Abortions%2C+Operating+Fake+Clinics&amp;category=News">prosecuting</a> a woman who performed illegal abortions.
Cornyn, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-thune-elected-senate-majority-leader?row=0&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;author=Tim+Pearce&amp;title=John+Thune+Elected+Senate+Majority+Leader&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> the race to succeed Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader, is <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/12NQYwfF1_c06LvP2Imx-54dTMjXJxrI2sz7MujKphFg/edit?tab=t.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serving</a> his fourth term in the upper chamber. A mainstay in Republican politics, he previously served as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and as Senate Majority Whip.
Senate Republican leaders have <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/06/politics/cornyn-texas-senate-primary/index.html">reportedly asked</a> Trump to endorse Cornyn to put a stop to what could be a costly and high-profile primary. Speaking to CNN&#8217;s Manu Raju, Cornyn demurred on the question of Trump&#8217;s endorsement, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/06/politics/video/sen-john-cornyn-gop-texas-primary-donald-trump-manu-raju-digvid">noting</a> that &#8220;his endorsement will be important&#8221; and saying Trump will &#8220;make an endorsement when he&#8217;s ready.&#8221; Cornyn also said that he and the president have &#8220;a very good relationship.&#8221;
But it&#8217;s unclear if Trump — who once <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/20/donald-trump-ken-paxton-attorney-general/">floated</a> the idea of tapping Paxton as U.S. Attorney General — would back Cornyn, whom the president <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4120760-trump-rips-weak-ineffective-cornyn-romney/">once called</a> &#8220;weak [and] ineffective.&#8221;
A recent poll found that Paxton leads Cornyn by 20 points, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/us/politics/paxton-cornyn-senate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> earlier this month.

Untitled design (13)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Will Challenge Senator John Cornyn

At the end of this week, Senate Democrats may force a partial government shutdown rather than allow a final vote on a GOP-backed stopgap bill that already has passed the House.
Republicans are warning of a &#8220;Schumer Shutdown,&#8221; named after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who said on Wednesday that the Senate majority lacks the votes necessary to break the filibuster on the GOP&#8217;s continuing resolution and should take up the Democrats&#8217; one-month funding patch instead.
&#8220;Funding the government should be a bipartisan effort but Republicans chose a partisan path drafting their continuing without any input — any input — from congressional Democrats,&#8221; Schumer <a href="https://x.com/sahilkapur/status/1899910466589126800" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> on the Senate floor. &#8220;Because of that, Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to invoke cloture on the House CR. Our caucus is unified on a clean April 11 CR that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass. We should vote on that.&#8221;
A partial government shutdown, in which non-essential federal employees will be furloughed, is set to begin on March 15 if a funding bill is not passed in time. It was only months ago, in December, that lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-last-minute-funding-bill-to-avert-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resorted</a> to the last continuing resolution that extended funding through mid-March.
The GOP-led House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-funding-patch-win-trump-speaker-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> a 99-page <a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/bill-text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continuing resolution</a>, which provides funds to various federal agencies and programs through September 30, via a 217-213 vote on Tuesday. All but one Republican and a single Democrat — Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) — supported the measure. The rest of the Democrats and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) opposed the bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) took the first procedural step in moving ahead with the House-passed funding bill on Wednesday morning, according to C-SPAN&#8217;s <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1899919192863768939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Craig Caplan</a>. A three-fifths majority — or 60 votes — will be needed to overcome a filibuster prior to a final vote in which the bill will need only a simple majority to prevail.
As it stands, Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, so a bipartisan coalition will have to vote in favor of advancing the legislation to clear the procedural hurdle. Punchbowl News <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1899910451409895583" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> there could be some kind of agreement in which a sufficient number of Democrats support cloture in exchange for the GOP majority allowing a vote on their 30-day continuing resolution.
Republicans have already pinned a potential shutdown on Schumer, arguing the Democrat leader opposes their legislation only because he does not to side with President Donald Trump — who supports the GOP&#8217;s continuing resolution as a means to keep the government running and later get to his domestic agenda priorities in national defense, border security, and tax cuts.
&#8220;The most unbelievable part of a Schumer shutdown is that it has no purpose. There is no goal other than opposing Trump,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/SenateGOP/status/1899845863519686717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Senate GOP account on X. &#8220;Americans shouldn’t have to pay the price for Schumer’s tantrum.&#8221;
Also on X, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1899912983826096160" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> a &#8220;SchumerShutdown&#8221; hashtag and <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1899925188541563280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;The only reason we&#8217;re voting on a CR is because Senator Schumer refused to put the normal appropriations bills on the floor for a vote last year. Now they want another short term bill? Nope.&#8221;
It remains to be seen whether all the Democrats and the independents who caucus with them will band together against the Republicans&#8217; continuing resolution. At least one of them — Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) — has indicated that he will break ranks.
&#8220;The weeks of performative &#8216;resistance&#8217; from those in my party were limited to undignified antics,&#8221; Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1899584350305276091" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;Voting to shut the government down will punish millions or risk a recession. I disagree with many points in the CR, but I will never vote to shut our government down.&#8221;
On the GOP side, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) signaled that he will vote against the continuing resolution — although that does not necessarily mean he will oppose breaking the filibuster.
&#8220;Despite [DOGE&#8217;s] findings of loony left-wing USAID programs, the Republican spending bill continues to fund the very foreign aid [Elon Musk] proposes to cut! The bill continues spending at the inflated pandemic levels and will add $2T to the debt this year,&#8221; Paul <a href="https://x.com/RandPaul/status/1899113680848961888" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X, referring to the Trump administration&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) overseen by Elon Musk. &#8220;Count me as a hell no!&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

‘Schumer Shutdown’ Looms As Dems Plan To Block GOP Spending Patch

Government Shutdown

Spending Bill

U.S.

On Wednesday, the GOP-led <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> amended the &#8220;Laken Riley Act,&#8221; a bill that would require federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants charged with crimes in the United States.
Seventy members, including Republicans and Democrats, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/14/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> in favor of expanding the legislation&#8217;s list of criminal offenses that would lead to mandatory detention of &#8220;inadmissible aliens.&#8221;
Another 25 senators voted against the amendment from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), all Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them. Several other members did not vote.
The bill, which got <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-again-passes-laken-riley-act-159-dems-vote-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> by the House last week, would direct the secretary of Homeland Security to detain illegal immigrants charged with, convicted of, or who admits to theft-related crimes.
With the amendment included, the list now <a href="https://www.congress.gov/amendment/119th-congress/senate-amendment/14/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also mentions</a> &#8220;the assault of a law enforcement officer offense, or any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person.&#8221;
The Senate also <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00004.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> an amendment from Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) to &#8220;strike&#8221; a section authorizing state attorneys general to sue federal immigration officials for alleged detention violations.
Laken Riley was a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed last year. An illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> of murdering Riley and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-immigrant-d8d75ccc6d81e7a88eb7890829d9fc9c#:~:text=The%20killing%20added%20fuel%20to,entered%20the%20U.S.%20in%202022.&amp;text=The%20Venezuelan%20man%20convicted%20in,without%20the%20possibility%20of%20parole." target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to life in prison.
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A press release from Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who <a href="https://collins.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mike-collins-reintroduces-laken-riley-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reintroduced</a> the Laken Riley Act for the new Congress, said the bill &#8220;directly addresses one of the federal policy failures&#8221; related to the murder.
Ibarra was &#8220;previously cited for shoplifting by the Athens Police Department,&#8221; it said. &#8220;If local law enforcement had called ICE, and ICE issued a detainer and picked him up, Laken would be alive.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5/amendments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dozens</a> more amendments have been proposed, including <a href="https://x.com/SenatorDurbin/status/1879315360975097974" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two</a> from Judiciary ranking member Dick Durbin (D-IL) that would exempt Dreamers and give them and others a path to citizenship.
But C-SPAN&#8217;s Craig Caplan <a href="https://x.com/CraigCaplan/status/1879683513869312006" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has filed cloture on the bill, setting up a vote to advance it and limit amendments, with a 60-vote threshold.
Whatever new version of the Laken Riley Act may ultimately pass through the Senate would need another vote by the House before it could be sent to the president to possibly sign the bill into law.

Senate Amends Laken Riley Act To Add More Crimes Requiring Detention Of Illegal Immigrants

Chris Coons

Illegal Immigration

Immigration

John Thune

Laken Riley

Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected South Dakota Senator John Thune as the next leader of the conference. 
Thune defeated Texas Senator John Cornyn by a vote of 29 to 24. Florida Senator Rick Scott, an outsider candidate favored by prominent Trump allies including Elon Musk, was eliminated on the first ballot. Thune, 63, is the current Senate Republican Whip. Cornyn, 72, had been the whip in the past.
Thune will be the first new head of the Republican conference in nearly two decades, taking over after Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced earlier this year that he would step down from the post after 18 years. McConnell leaves the role as the longest-serving conference leader in Senate history.
Senate Republican leadership elections are “first past the post,” meaning the eventual leader must receive a majority of the votes. Scott received the least amount of votes on the first ballot and dropped from the race. Thune received a majority on the second ballot. 

The new GOP leadership team will enter the Senate alongside Republican President Donald Trump in the White House and a Republican majority in the House. The Senate team will be primarily responsible for working with the White House to staff the incoming Trump administration and enact Republicans’ legislative priorities.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Despite the anticipation and public pressure, few senators revealed how they planned to vote in the secret ballot ahead of time.
Trump, who did not publicly weigh into the race, said on Sunday that he expected whoever won the leadership race to support recess appointments for his administration, which could allow the president to fill top roles in the government for two years without a vote in the Senate.
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump wrote in a post on X. “Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1855692242981155259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
McConnell <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/28/us/politics/mitch-mcconnell-senate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in February that he would finish his current term as leader before stepping aside for someone else to lead the conference. McConnell’s decision came amid concerns about his health. The senator appeared to freeze multiple times in front of reporters, appearing confused and unable to function.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

John Thune Elected Senate Majority Leader

Rick Scott

Washington D.C.

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> weighed in on the race for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> leader, declaring on Sunday he wants whoever takes on the role — now that the GOP has won back control of the upper chamber — to allow recess appointments.
If his demand is met, it would break with what has become the routine under both parties for years: scheduling <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/research-tools/glossary.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro forma sessions</a> during extended off-periods, essentially keeping the Senate from entering a recess and thus <a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42977" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preventing</a> the president from making appointments in their absence.
&#8220;Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1855692242981155259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a post to X</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is…
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1855692242981155259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY! Additionally, no Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/now-schumer-demands-senate-act-bipartisan-heres-his-bipartisan-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Now Schumer Demands Senate Act ‘Bipartisan.’ Here’s His ‘Bipartisan’ History.</a>
Trump has not publicly endorsed any candidate for the role as of press time, but multiple GOP lawmakers are vying for the spot in the upcoming leadership elections. Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY), who is the current leader of the Senate GOP, is not competing this time. Three other Republicans are running: Sens. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rick-scott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rick Scott</a> (R-FL), <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-cornyn-announces-bid-to-replace-mcconnell-as-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cornyn</a> (R-TX), and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-enters-race-to-become-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thune</a> (R-SD).
Scott responded to Trump&#8217;s post on X, saying he agreed with the president-elect&#8217;s demand. &#8220;100% agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible,&#8221; Scott <a href="https://x.com/SenRickScott/status/1855693759281053758" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Thune, the sitting Senate Republican whip, said in a statement obtained by The Daily Wire: &#8220;I’ve spent eight months carefully listening to my colleagues about their vision for the next chapter of the Senate Republican Conference, especially as we hit the ground running with President Trump. One thing is clear: We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s Cabinet and other nominees in place as soon as possible to start delivering on the mandate we’ve been sent to execute, and all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments. We cannot let Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats block the will of the American people.&#8221;
On Saturday, before Trump called for allowing recess appointments, Cornyn said in <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1855424788358897926" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posts to X</a> that he would keep the Senate in session until Trump&#8217;s Cabinet is filled if elected majority leader.
&#8220;The first order of business in the new Senate should be confirming President Trump’s cabinet. If I am the majority leader, I will keep the Senate in session until those confirmations occur,&#8221; Cornyn said. &#8220;No weekends, no breaks. Democrats can cooperate in the best interest of the country, or continue the resistance, which will eventually be ground down. Take your pick.&#8221;
In a <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1855730861028569391" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post to X</a> on Sunday, after Trump expressed his position, Cornyn said: &#8220;It is unacceptable for Senate Ds to blockade President @realDonaldTrump‘s cabinet appointments. If they do, we will stay in session, including weekends, until they relent. Additionally, the Constitution expressly confers the power on the President to make recess appointments.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;Article II, Section 2, Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mike-johnson-running-again-for-speaker-readies-gops-biggest-offense-of-our-lives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Mike Johnson Running Again For Speaker, Readies GOP’s ‘Biggest Offense Of Our Lives’</a>
Democrats still control the Senate for now, with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as majority leader. They <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/08/us/politics/senate-democrats-judges.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can move forward</a> with confirming judges, although their narrow majority could make a final blitz difficult. President Joe Biden has <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/11/08/president-biden-names-fifty-sixth-round-of-judicial-nominees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued to announce</a> judicial nominees after his vice president, Kamala Harris, lost the 2024 presidential contest to Trump.
Tech executive Elon Musk, who owns X and supported Trump&#8217;s 2024 campaign, also replied to Trump with an explanation for why he supports the call for recess appointments.
&#8220;Without recess appointments, it will take two years or more to confirm the new administration!&#8221; Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1855694053268169146" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;This would make it impossible to enact the change demanded by the American people, which is utterly unacceptable.&#8221;

Trump Demands Next GOP Senate Leader Allow Recess Appointments

On Thursday, Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-cornyn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cornyn</a> (R-TX) became the first member to declare his candidacy to replace Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) as leader of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> GOP.
Cornyn made the announcement one day after McConnell said he planned to step down from the position once his colleagues have elected a new leader in November and that person takes on the role in January.
“I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell,&#8221; Cornyn said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/frankthorp/status/1763222881087963368" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;I have learned a lot during my time both in and out of Senate leadership.&#8221;
First elected to the Senate in 2002, Cornyn is in his <a href="https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/about/about-john-cornyn/">fourth term</a>. Over the years, he has served as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and then as Republican whip, the No. 2 ranking position within the Senate GOP.
Cornyn is also a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, voting in line with Trump&#8217;s position <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/john-cornyn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">92.2%</a> of the time while Trump was in office and has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senator-cornyn-endorses-trump-following-new-hampshire-win" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsed</a> him again in this year&#8217;s election.
&#8220;During my two terms as NRSC Chair, we shrunk Democrats’ majority by five seats and laid the foundation to retake the majority in 2014,&#8221; Cornyn said. &#8220;Then as the Republican Whip, I helped President Trump advance his agenda through the Senate, including passing historic tax reform and remaking our judiciary &#8211; including two Supreme Court Justices.&#8221;
Before joining the Senate, Cornyn served as a justice in the Texas Supreme Court and as Texas attorney general. The senator has been making headlines for his clash with the current Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, over <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4465233-cornyn-blasts-texas-ag-paxton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issues such as foreign aid</a>.
Other Republicans who are being talked about as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-who-might-run-to-replace-mcconnell-as-senate-gop-leader-including-the-three-johns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">potential candidates</a> for GOP leader include Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD), Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), and NRSC Chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1762922197478212086" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Daines</a> (R-MT).
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In his pitch to colleagues, Cornyn touted a &#8220;track record of listening to colleagues and seeking consensus.&#8221; He added that his tenure in the Senate has been marked by &#8220;leading the fight to stop bad policies that are harmful to our nation and the conservative cause.&#8221;
Cornyn said he intends to &#8220;play a major role in fixing&#8221; the Senate by restoring its role in the constitutional republic. He targeted communication, transparency, and inclusion of expertise and opinion as areas for improvement.
&#8220;We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, rather than lurch from one crisis to another,&#8221; Cornyn said. &#8220;And we will return power back to our members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment.&#8221;
Cornyn concluded, &#8220;I am ready to get to work and look forward to continuing to engage with my colleagues.&#8221;

John Cornyn Announces Bid To Replace McConnell As Senate GOP Leader

Cornyn Announces Bid To Replace McConnell As Senate GOP Leader

Mitch McConnell

Republicans

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