Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said he hasn’t heard any Republicans label President Donald Trump, 79, “too old” in response to primary challenger Rep. Wesley Hunt‘s (R-TX) call for the ‘next generation.’
Hunt and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are challenging Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary as the incumbent seeks a fifth six-year term. Hunt, 44, said last week that “it’s time for the next generation of leadership to step up,” taking a shot at Cornyn, 74, by saying the Senate is “not a retirement community.”
Cornyn, however, dismissed Hunt’s comments.
“I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think either President Trump’s either 79 or 80, and I don’t hear anybody, any Republican saying he’s too old,” Cornyn said on CBS News. “And I think it’s frankly kind of insulting, but what else is Wesley going to say? He’s not going to make it past March 3, he is going to force a runoff, and I guess if that’s what he counts as success, he will be successful.”
Cornyn cautioned against nominating Paxton over himself, saying a Paxton nomination would jeopardize the down-ballot races for Republicans in the House and state elections. Paxton’s campaign has faced some turbulence over his prior impeachment, of which he was acquitted, as well as allegations that he pursued an extramarital affair in 2024.
Polling data released Feb. 23 show Paxton leading this primary race with 36%, ahead of Cornyn by 2% and Hunt by 10%. If no candidate breaches the 50% threshold on Tuesday, a primary runoff election between the top two candidates will be held on May 26.
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Trump has notably not endorsed in this heated primary race. In January, he told White House reporters on Air Force One that he supports each of the candidates, and he hadn’t “made a decision on that race yet.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and state Rep. James Talarico are vying for the Democratic Party’s nomination in this Senate race. Talarico received 52% of support in data from the Emerson College Polling released Sunday, outpacing Crockett by 5%. The poll’s margin of error is 3.3%.
The Texas Senate primary is Tuesday, March 3.
The Washington Examiner contacted Hunt’s campaign for comment.