Rep. Wesley Hunt is turning up the heat in the Texas Senate primary with a new satirical ad aimed squarely at incumbent Sen. John Cornyn — arguing that if Cornyn “votes like a Democrat” and “acts like a Democrat,” then he “must be a Democrat.” Ouch.
The ad, released ahead of schedule to Breitbart News, will run on digital platforms and television as the race enters its final stretch. It opens with Hunt standing in a field beside a fence, with two donkeys behind him — a visual punchline meant to show who Cornyn has been partnering with.
“I’m Wesley Hunt, and this is who John Cornyn partnered with for gun control, amnesty, and allowed 50,000 Afghan migrants into this country,” Hunt says, gesturing at the animals. Subtle? No. Effective? Also no question.
Hunt’s campaign says the gun-control jab refers to the Safer Communities Act, which Cornyn co-authored with then-Rep. Colin Allred, including red-flag provisions passed with Democrat support. The “amnesty” line points to Cornyn’s sponsorship of S. 1387 during the 108th Congress, a guestworker program critics described as amnesty by installments. And the “50,000 Afghan migrants” claim refers to Cornyn’s work with Sen. Alex Padilla on the HOPE for Afghan SIVs Act.
In a statement, Hunt said the ad reflects growing frustration among Texas Republicans. He contrasted it with Cornyn’s recent messaging, blasting what he called “ridiculous AI-generated attack ads” and saying his own spot simply tells the truth.
“Much like donkeys, facts are stubborn things,” Hunt said. He accused Cornyn of partnering with Democrats on red-flag laws that threaten the Second Amendment, authoring legislation to bring in tens of thousands of unvetted migrants, and backing policies that put Texas last. “Texans deserve better,” he added.
Framing the race as a turning point, Hunt urged voters to choose “strength over weakness” and “the future over the past,” calling for a new generation of leadership in Texas. He even closed with a wink to the ad’s tone: Texas voters have been harmed by Cornyn’s record for decades — but no animals were harmed during filming.
The ad lands as the three-way Republican primary between Cornyn, Hunt, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remains tight. A February 5 survey from J.L. Partners showed Paxton narrowly leading, with Hunt and Cornyn essentially tied. Hunt posted the strongest net favorability at +42, compared to +27 for Paxton and +14 for Cornyn.
President Donald Trump has not endorsed a candidate in the race. If no one clears 50 percent on March 3, the top two will face off in a runoff later this spring.
One thing is clear: Hunt is making the case that Texas conservatives should stop settling for Democrat-style votes in Republican clothing. And with the primary clock ticking, that message is getting louder — and funnier — by the day.
