John Cornyn

John Cornyn is the senior United States Senator from Texas and a member of the Republican Party. Born on February 2, 1952, in Houston, he was raised in San Antonio and attended high school in Japan while his father served in the U.S. Air Force. Cornyn earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Trinity University in 1973, a Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1977, and a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1995. Before entering federal politics, he served as a district judge in Bexar County, a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court from 1991 to 1997, and as the Attorney General of Texas from 1999 to 2002. Cornyn was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 to succeed retiring Senator Phil Gramm. Since then, he has risen through the party leadership, serving as the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2009 to 2013 and as the Senate Republican Whip, the second-highest position in the Senate Republican leadership, from 2013 to 2019. He currently serves on the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees. Throughout his tenure, he has been a key figure in judicial confirmation processes and major legislative initiatives, including the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Senator Cornyn’s policy positions are generally aligned with conservative principles. On the economy, he advocates for low taxes, deregulation, and fiscal restraint, having been a primary supporter of the 2017 tax reform bill. Regarding healthcare, he consistently supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act in favor of market-based solutions, health savings accounts, and private insurance competition. His stance on immigration emphasizes border security as a prerequisite for broader reform; he has authored legislation to increase border enforcement and surveillance while also engaging in bipartisan talks regarding the legal status of DACA recipients. In foreign policy, Cornyn maintains a hawkish position, supporting a strong military presence, increased defense spending, and a firm approach toward China and Russia. He is an advocate for Texas's energy sector, supporting the expansion of oil and gas production and energy independence, while generally opposing federal mandates aimed at climate change that impact the fossil fuel industry. While he is a vocal defender of Second Amendment rights, he took a prominent leadership role in negotiating the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, which introduced enhanced background checks for younger buyers and increased funding for mental health services and school security.