There is little that is dull or small in the state of Texas, and certainly not its politics. Next week brings a high-stakes showdown in the Senate Republican primary, one worthy of the state’s long history of colorful political campaigns. John Cornyn, a Bush-era Republican, will try to hold onto his seat against challenges from Ken Paxton, the fiery, Trump-aligned state attorney general, and Wesley Hunt, a two-term congressman and a staunch supporter of the president. The result will signal the direction of the Republican Party in a state that has steadily become more conservative in recent years.
Times Opinion assembled a panel of experts from Texas of various backgrounds and political views for a new installment of The Choice, aimed at guiding voters through the complex issues in this election. This is the first of several panels we will convene in a year of critical midterm races that will serve as a referendum on President Trump’s tenure in office. Texas may provide a clue as to whether far-right ideology has gained an intractable hold on red-state America, or if there are cracks the Democrats can exploit.
The Choice was prepared by Times Opinion editors, based in part on a round-table conversation with the panelists held in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 11.
Our Panel’s Ratings
We asked panelists to rate the three leading candidates on a scale from 0 to 10, and averaged their scores.
Times Opinion
How do you rate the Trump administration’s handling of border security, and how will it resonate in Texas?
James Henson Government professor in Austin
The problem with border safety in Texas proper now could be it’s a dog-catches-car state of affairs. It’s perceived by lots of people as sort of being solved. We dined out for a very long time by way of reporting our polling knowledge by saying: If you happen to wished to unify Republicans, discuss border safety, and also you’d get 50, 60, 70 p.c of Republicans agreeing with you.
Now that border security seems to be solved, well, you’ve seen its salience decline. And when you break down the policy applications, it introduces a lot of divisions among Republicans that were not there when the focus was simply: We need to enforce the border.
Brendan Steinhauser Consultant in Austin
In Texas amongst Hispanic Republican voters, I believe the president has misplaced a few of these individuals due to the federal government’s ways. They’re like: Wait, we had been for this, not for that.
Leah Hagan Consultant in Houston
All the pieces that I see from the Rio Grande Valley and people counties that had been alongside the border, these Latinos are staying sturdy. They stand by Trump’s stance on the border on deportations.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
When the administration first began out, there was stronger assist. However now you’re seeing ICE guys shoot individuals and it turns into this chaotic factor. And polling displays that. So the Republican Social gathering has to decide: Are they going to know this and discover a technique to scale it again, or are they only going to maintain going full throttle?
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
There may be little or no disagreement about border safety. It’s the way you go about it. Having a militarized power — that for all of the world appears to be like like safety forces in a banana republic — in a spot like Minnesota shouldn’t be the reply.
Suzanne Bellsnyder News publisher in West Texas
All people desires a safe border. In order that’s probably not the place the dialog must be. Cornyn might be the one which has essentially the most pragmatic strategy to all of it. The opposite two candidates appear to be extra firebrand on that concern.
Chad Hasty Radio talk-show host in Lubbock
None of those guys are going to return out and say ICE raids are unhealthy, Trump is unhealthy — they’re not going to try this. So for major voters, it comes right down to: Are these candidates going to assist Trump?
I think a lot of folks nationally still don’t understand that when it comes to what policies they like, what policies they disagree with, there’s not just one thought within the Hispanic community in Texas.
For the general election, that’s where the big question is. But is that going to cause somebody to stay home and vote for the Democrat, who’s going to be branded open borders? Not likely.
Times Opinion
Which of the three candidates do you have confidence in to advocate for Texas on this issue in Washington?
Leah Hagan Consultant in Houston
I believe Ken Paxton is most aligned with President Trump on America-first insurance policies. And when he will get into the Senate, that’s going to be his principal focus. And that nationwide concern downside is an enormous concern for us Texans as a result of we don’t take a look at it as us towards Latinos. That is us towards the world in a risk to nationwide safety.
Christian Collins Founder of Texas Youth Summit
Ken Paxton has constructed a model on securing the border. As a result of for those who’re a member of Congress, you’ll be able to discuss, you may make speeches on C-SPAN. However Ken Paxton has really sued the Obama administration. He’s sued the Biden administration on many points. I’d positively say that he’s come throughout very, very powerful on that concern.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
It’s apparent all three assist Trump. However I believe that’s a evident weak spot of Paxton — that he sued on DACA, the Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrivals coverage. That’s going to be an enormous concern that the Democrats are going to convey up, and it’s going to be exhausting to defend.
I’m worried about Texas staying red. And I’m worried about which Republican candidate will be the weakest when it comes to Talarico attacking and having national money behind him. I’m worried about what Paxton did on DACA.
Morgan Cisneros Eakin Former chair of the Cameron County G.O.P.
I first turned a celebration chairman within the 2010s, and within the years I served in workplace and being energetic as a Republican grass-roots member on the border, Cornyn has been down there. In my expertise, he at all times reached out to us.
Ken Paxton’s visits to the area are essentially photo ops, in my view. That says a great deal.
Our experience has been that people who are not actually present at the border have a habit of gaslighting us about what is actually occurring. Why would we expect any different from Attorney General Paxton?
Wendy Davis Former state senator from Fort Worth
A variety of it is dependent upon what is going on once we get to November, clearly. Everyone knows that voters’ reminiscences could be moderately brief, however I believe the border goes to be a sustaining concern, significantly with Latino voters who’ve been profiled.
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
On checks and balances, Ken Paxton goes to do precisely what Donald Trump or the Republican management in Washington says.
And while the Republican caucus has largely, if not exclusively, been pretty spineless in terms of assertion of the separation of powers, I think John Cornyn is our best hope.
Ross Hunt Pollster and analyst in Dallas
Cornyn is getting punished as a result of persons are attempting to say he’s not as near Trump, although he has voted with him one thing like greater than 90 p.c of the time. However he has at occasions demonstrated an independence that may enable him some flexibility that does exist even contained in the G.O.P. major voters.
Chad Hasty Radio talk-show host in Lubbock
And that’s the place the controversy is. We would see that diploma of independence as an asset. However for those who’re asking the voters: Would you like somebody to be actually unbiased of Trump? A variety of the Republican pink voters, that’s precisely what they don’t belief about John Cornyn.
Christian Collins Founder of Texas Youth Summit
While you ask the query, who would most stand with President Trump on that concern in supporting ICE, supporting legislation enforcement, deporting the unlawful immigrants which can be right here, I believe you take a look at Ken Paxton or Wesley Hunt.
Of those two people, Wesley probably has a little less baggage, but Ken Paxton has a track record of fighting on this issue for many, many years. I just don’t think that the Republican primary voter electorate is going to be with John Cornyn on this issue.
Wendy Davis Former state senator from Fort Worth
As a Democrat, I see the world very otherwise than most of the Republicans right here, however I believe the grounding concern is — somebody stated it a minute in the past — that the canine has sort of caught the automotive. For therefore lengthy, Republicans in Texas had been all down on the border doing their photograph ops and creating the boogeyman for everybody to be afraid of. Concern has been very profitable for them.
They’ve now taken what had been a winning issue away from themselves.
Democrats fear John Cornyn because he is a person who is seen as more policy-oriented, a person who is more reasonable. But I’m doubtful that he’s the one who’s actually going to make it through.
Times Opinion
Let’s turn to the issue of affordability and the Texas economy. Where does the economy stand and how do you see the candidates approaching it?
James Henson Government professor in Austin
If you happen to take a look at the macroeconomic indicators, they’re getting higher, however persons are experiencing the financial system in very other ways. They’re most involved about on a regular basis costs, well being care costs and the value of housing.
The economy applies a little bit less to the race we’re looking at, but it’s still going to be in the ether out there. Republican candidates are still going to be able to run on a healthy macroeconomy. But I do think they’re going to have to do some campaigning on affordability by the time we get to the general election.
Ross Hunt Pollster and analyst in Dallas
I believe Paxton will fail to speak on affordability. I don’t know if that’s essentially a strategic mistake on his half. It’s not the differentiator that voters are on the lookout for proper now.
Trump seems to have an instinct for knowing when to pivot back to things, but I don’t see Paxton doing that. And so I think in the fall that’s a potential liability.
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
That’s the issue. You possibly can’t differentiate between the candidates. All of them discuss what the issue is. However they don’t differentiate what the options are. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a Texas miracle. There’s some happenstance. If there’s a Texas miracle, it’s that we have now extra oil than anybody else. Now we have a big inhabitants, a big work power. Now we have deepwater ports. There’s nothing miraculous about it. However with regards to affordability, whether or not it’s renting or buying and issues like that, no person actually appears to have an answer.
Brendan Steinhauser Consultant in Austin
We’re within the tradition warfare facet of the marketing campaign. It’s what’s on TV. It’s what everyone’s speaking about nationally. It’s who’s combating, how offended are they, how carefully are they standing with the president. However I do really feel assured that if John Cornyn wins the nomination, he’s going to pivot to speak in regards to the financial system. Paxton could not. That’s not in his DNA.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
The opposite aspect goes to convey it up. That’s what issues.
Morgan Cisneros Eakin Former chair of the Cameron County G.O.P.
Texas is a big state. So with regards to the flexibility to feed our households, they’re actually going to have to debate the gamut of humanity in the event that they’re going to be interesting to as many Texans as potential.
Christian Collins Founder of Texas Youth Summit
The cultural points are actually what younger individuals care about essentially the most. Who’s essentially the most pro-life, who’s standing most carefully with President Trump, who’s the boldest fighter towards unlawful immigration?
And from everything I’m seeing, it appears to be that Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt’s support among young people is pretty rock solid.
Ross Hunt Pollster and analyst in Dallas
Christian makes a very good level that the tradition warfare is an enormous draw for people who find themselves contained in the G.O.P. Everybody’s competing on that. One of many methods wherein the financial system and affordability may present up within the Republican major is by way of turnout — by voters not exhibiting up.
You could have independent voters who are trying to figure out, OK, who cares about me, who cares about my issues — if their issue is affordability and the economy is not being addressed, maybe they vote for Talarico or Crockett if they’re an independent.
Leah Hagan Consultant in Houston
The financial system shouldn’t be going to be a driving issue on this major election. It’s a tradition warfare. What does it imply to have a home whenever you don’t have a rustic?
Suzanne Bellsnyder News publisher in West Texas
I stay in a county that’s vibrant pink. I additionally work in a county subsequent to me that’s simply as pink. I not too long ago went to a candidate discussion board there and I requested the query: Do you’re feeling the Senate candidates are talking to the problems that matter in communities like ours? Not a single individual raised their hand.
They said there is a complete disconnect between Senate messaging and our lived experiences.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
We will sit right here and discuss in regards to the major. However with regards to the overall, the Democrats are going to give attention to affordability as a result of they’re specializing in Trump. Democrats are sending cash to so many races in Texas. Texas could be the craziest win for them. So we’ve acquired to take a look at our candidates and say: What occurs if President Trump doesn’t give attention to affordability? What occurs within the basic in a good race if President Trump has one other message?
Wendy Davis Former state senator from Fort Worth
Sitting from my perspective, I believe most voters take into consideration which one in every of these candidates suits most on the tradition warfare and takes the aspect of President Trump. And if that’s the case, it’s very probably that somebody will likely be elected who may have a tougher time within the basic election.
Times Opinion
Is character an issue in this race? And if so, does that favor one of the candidates?
Brendan Steinhauser Consultant in Austin
It doesn’t appear to matter to the voters. There’s loads of proof of that. It ought to, in my view. In actuality, it doesn’t.
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
Intrinsically, character at all times issues. In each endeavor. However you’re proper. In the mean time, it doesn’t appear to a lot matter on the very highest degree. Within the Senate race, it’s ideological purity.
Suzanne Bellsnyder News publisher in West Texas
I get the sense that character does matter. What I believe is completely different in regards to the Paxton concern is that it’s character coupled with what I contemplate abuse of workplace. And as that message penetrates somewhat bit, then possibly it turns into a disqualification for him. My very own little focus group, all the messaging that they’re getting is about character. They’re getting no messaging on coverage. And I acquired loads of thumbs down on Paxton.
We all go to church every Sunday. I mean, this stuff does matter to us. Now, is it enough to make a difference in this race? I don’t know. But to say that character doesn’t matter — I think it’s a shortcoming.
Christian Collins Founder of Texas Youth Summit
I believe that character does matter to voters. That being stated, although, for those who’re propping your self up as a seminarian like Talarico, then for those who make a mistake, you’re going to be considered rather more harshly. Ken Paxton, he’s probably not propped himself as much as be an ideal Christian. They’ve tried to question Ken Paxton, major him, there have been fees towards him and investigations into him. It didn’t work. He’s been capable of efficiently examine himself to President Trump, of whom he’s very reminiscent, really.
Chad Hasty Radio talk-show host in Lubbock
The those that I’m listening to from, those which can be troubled by it are voting for Wesley Hunt. They’re not going to go and vote for John Cornyn. I believe that John Cornyn is operating an honest marketing campaign — for 2001.
This idea that with Paxton, well, you’re going through a divorce. Or you might be slimy. That doesn’t work in 2025 or in 2026. Donald Trump is not the preacher in chief; that’s not what the primary voters wanted. They wanted a fighter.
Times Opinion
What’s the problem with John Cornyn? He doesn’t have a big scandal.
Leah Hagan Consultant in Houston
I believe the Second Modification vote in that Senate was an enormous killer on this race in the present day.
The Second Amendment in Texas is huge. I love my guns, and I’m willing to protect my family with them if I ever need to. And to take that away from somebody and even have that on the table, it’s not going to work with Cornyn. Leave Texans and their guns alone.
Chad Hasty Radio talk-show host in Lubbock
Folks don’t belief John Cornyn when Donald Trump’s not in workplace.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
Talarico’s broader political technique is attempting to get individuals to take a look at character.
And in my opinion, Paxton, who faced impeachment and allegations of adultery, would be a ripe target.
Wendy Davis Former state senator from Fort Worth
If the voters had been fascinated by electability, it ought to be actually necessary as a result of, if it does wind up being Talarico and Paxton, character will change into an actual pivotal concern for the overall election.
Times Opinion
It seems like it wasn’t just about the Second Amendment in terms of why people are lukewarm on Cornyn. Do you have a broader theory as to what the problem with him is?
Christian Collins Founder of Texas Youth Summit
Yeah, I believe there’s simply an anti-incumbency strategy with youthful voters and Republican major voters. Folks need somebody that may are available in, convey a contemporary set of eyes, new blood. They usually need any individual that’s a fighter.
The perception among a lot of the primary voters is that when you go to Washington, you might fight each other on Fox News or CNN, but you’re all buddy-buddies behind the scene. It’s like one big club. Primary voters want somebody that’s going to go there, be a brass knuckle fighter, and stand up and codify President Trump’s executive orders.
John Cornyn has voted with President Trump. But that’s not the point. It’s whether you stand with him. There’s a reason why President Trump has not endorsed an incumbent who should have very well gotten the endorsement. He expects loyalty.
James Henson Government professor in Austin
Character is an element, but it surely’s already baked in — and in a means that could be very completely different relying in your perspective. While you point out character, half the room thinks of Paxton. However there may be one other facet of the character argument that Paxton supporters are probably embracing to the impact of, “no, character is loyalty to any individual else,” and that another person is President Trump. Coupled with the anti-incumbent, anti-institutional temper within the Republican base, this interprets into flipping the character concern towards Cornyn.
Ross Hunt Pollster and analyst in Dallas
I believe that there are completely different points of anti-incumbency. Individuals are conflating Trump’s model of anti-incumbency with essentially the most excessive type of ideological extremism on the appropriate, they usually’re saying they’re the identical factor. And that is simply sort of forgetting historical past.
When Trump ran in 2016, he was not the most ideologically far-right candidate. He appealed to people because he was a fighter, because he was independent of the party apparatus. A lot of people will say: Well, because Texans elected Trump, they don’t care about character. But I think it’s a narrow understanding of what character is. Trump was a fighter, independent, courageous. These are virtues. Does Paxton have those same virtues?
Wendy Davis Former state senator from Fort Worth
Charisma performs a job. And I’ve by no means heard even essentially the most ardent Paxton supporters state that he’s an thrilling, charismatic sort of man. Trump had that going for him.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
A part of being a fighter in the present day is participating the media.
You watch what Wes Hunt does on Fox News, on podcasts about men’s issues, that’s the kind of candidate I like. He can take on the left’s talking points, dismantle their arguments and extend an olive branch and say: Why don’t you join us? Cornyn’s not a fighter and Paxton’s not a persuader.
Chad Hasty Radio talk-show host in Lubbock
If you happen to can’t abdomen voting for Ken Paxton and also you don’t like Cornyn, you’re going to go and vote for Wesley Hunt.
I’ve had him on my show. And each time he comes on, I get more and more people who go: I like that guy. Because he comes across as someone with leadership and he comes across as pro-MAGA.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
West Level graduate, Apache helicopter man. I believe he’s going to be very efficient.
Times Opinion
How do you all feel about the direction of the Republican Party here in Texas? Is it charting the right course?
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
Completely not.
Leah Hagan Consultant in Houston
Completely not.
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
No.
We’re tearing our party apart and eating our young.
Suzanne Bellsnyder News publisher in West Texas
We’re not speaking about kitchen desk points, stuff that actually issues. We’re doing all this tradition warfare stuff. And that’s nice for profitable elections, however that’s not actually nice for constructing a long-term technique for our state.
We have water issues. We have infrastructure issues. We’ve got all this stuff that is not working for people. And so we’re still winning elections, but that will end. There’s a well-funded, yearslong orchestrated effort to build a funded grass-roots organization around people like Ken Paxton and his acolytes. The Republican Party has gone off the rails because of that effort.
Ross Hunt Pollster and analyst in Dallas
I’d argue that the rightward shift within the get together has been pushed, partially, by exterior forces. Texas is now not a walled backyard, the place the forces contained in the state are the one ones figuring out what’s occurring. An inflow of out-of-state cash and influences starting from billionaires like Jeff Yass to Elon Musk, they’re reshaping the politics.
Morgan Cisneros Eakin Former chair of the Cameron County G.O.P.
I served on the board of administrators for the Republican Social gathering of Texas, and I’ve seen firsthand what the affect of Tim Dunn cash has carried out. While you discuss the way forward for the get together and its results, the state get together is now not consultant of Republican voters in Texas.
Brendan Steinhauser Consultant in Austin
I haven’t acquired an opportunity to choose on our Democratic mates, however I do assume loads of these cultural points come from the left; the appropriate is responding to that. And you could possibly say we is likely to be over-responding. We would not be.
That culture war is happening on both sides.
Times Opinion
Given what you just described, who does it favor?
Brendan Steinhauser Consultant in Austin
You’ll anticipate it to favor a candidate like Paxton on this Senate race.
Leah Hagan Consultant in Houston
It’s so exhausting for me to see grass-roots numbers there for Wesley Hunt. I’ve seen the responses from these individuals on the doorways. I’ve seen the information; I believe the grass-roots voters will finally stand behind Paxton. Cornyn has by no means skilled the sort of major ever, ever.
Christian Collins Founder of Texas Youth Summit
When you have a really powerful major, the place John Cornyn and Ken Paxton are actually combating it out within the runoff, I believe that performs to the Democrats’ favor within the basic election as a result of the Republicans have to return collectively, and they may not.
Suzanne Bellsnyder News publisher in West Texas
Yeah, Cornyn’s the incumbent. So Paxton’s difficult. He’s the one taking over the division of the get together.
Artemio Muniz Lawyer in Houston
Once I entered the Republican Social gathering of Texas, I keep in mind the conference having 12,000, 14,000 delegates. The man in the beginning would say: Welcome to the world’s largest delegate conference. On the final one, solely a fraction of the individuals confirmed up. The Republican Social gathering in Texas is on life assist proper now, the precise group.
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
The rationale we began profitable races within the late ’80s and have become completely dominant in 1994 was as a result of the Republican Social gathering had a very massive tent. Come one, come all. It’s barely a pup tent proper now.
Wendy Davis Former state senator from Fort Worth
I believe what has created an enormous shift the place we have now gone by means of a number of years now of Republican-controlled redistricting, and the place these districts had been getting drawn increasingly more purely Republican, we began seeing that the extra excessive factions of the Republican Social gathering within the primaries had been profitable.
Chad Hasty Radio talk-show host in Lubbock
You possibly can blame it on no matter you need, however at this level, we have now nationwide elections taking part in out in Texas, the place nobody is listening to what’s taking place on the college board or their metropolis council and even the Texas Legislature half the time. It’s all in regards to the White Home, and it’s all about what’s taking place nationally and who can greatest go to their aspect. And for those who take a look at John Cornyn, he’s the man who can generally convey a pal over from the left. Voters don’t need that.
Times Opinion
In other races we’ve covered, alignment with Trump has either been a point of praise or of disqualification. Is that a factor here?
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
It’s not now as a result of there’s such a race to embrace Trump by all of the candidates. So there’s no distinction. Certainly one of Cornyn’s principal speaking factors is just that he voted with Trump greater than 90 p.c of the time.
James Henson Government professor in Austin
It’s so clear that that’s what’s occurring. And whenever you take a look at the approval, the favorability scores of Republican leaders, Trump is simply at all times on the high of the heap.
Trump is the third rail of Republican politics here, right? You don’t want to touch it. You want it to propel you.
Times Opinion
There is a Democratic primary happening as well. Wendy, tell us who’s going to win.
Wendy Davis Former state senator from Fort Worth
I want I knew. I’d put cash on it and change into wealthy, however I don’t know. Truthfully, it’s actually anyone’s guess proper now. Between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, I actually don’t know. And I do assume loads of it’s going to rely, as a result of Democrats must assume a lot extra about electability. Some individuals assume that Jasmine is extra electable as a result of they consider that churning up the bottom goes to assist us win in a basic election.
There are some people who think that’s kind of fantasy thinking and that we’ve really got to bring over some folks who are moderate Republicans and independents, who think things have just gotten too extreme on the Republican side. And that if that’s the case, James is going to be the better person.
Leah Hagan Consultant in Houston
Crockett and Talarico’s kinds of campaigning are fully completely different. You’ve acquired Jasmine Crockett, who does need to take the gloves off and hit it proper within the face. Seems like it’s important to go that means with the rhetoric that’s out right here these days.
And then you’ve got James Talarico, who is kind of that old-school politician. He’s well rounded and he’s very well spoken, soft-spoken. They want the same things, but their styles of campaigning are completely different.
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
Finally, I believe the Republican goes to win.
But I think that Republicans are going to come together and ask voters: Do you want open borders? Do you want woke? Do you want all this? Remember what we talked about during the Biden years? They represent that. Is that what you want?
Chad Hasty Radio talk-show host in Lubbock
The Democrats desire a fighter. The Republicans desire a fighter.
Kel Seliger Former state senator from Amarillo
We don’t disagree, however the Democrats in some unspecified time in the future are going to have to consider, apart from who’s the fighter, who’s going to really win a race?
About our panel The 11 panelists assessed the candidates independently, not on behalf of their organizations.
Suzanne Bellsnyder writes the Texas Rural Reporter newsletter and is the editor and publisher of two newspapers in rural Texas. She also runs a public affairs firm and previously worked for Republicans in Austin. She lives in the Panhandle.
Christian Collins runs Texas Youth Summit, a nonprofit group that hosts an annual conference promoting conservative activism and civic leadership programs for students and young professionals. He is also a political consultant and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2022. He lives in Montgomery County, near Houston.
Wendy Davis represented parts of Tarrant County in the State Senate from 2009 to 2015, where she supported consumer protections and reproductive rights. She was the Democratic nominee for governor of Texas in 2014. She consults for Democratic candidates and causes in the state. Ms. Davis supported and donated to Colin Allred’s run for Senate, which he ended in December.
Morgan Cisneros Eakin served as chair of the Cameron County Republican Party in the Rio Grande Valley from 2015 to 2024 and represented the area on the Texas State Republican Executive Committee. During her tenure, she focused on voter turnout and education.
Leah Hagan consults and strategizes for Republicans, focusing on community engagement, local leadership development and state politics. She lives in Sugar Land.
Chad Hasty hosts “The Chad Hasty Show,” a radio talk show, which is syndicated throughout Texas on Townsquare Media stations. A native of Grand Prairie, Mr. Hasty is a lifelong Texan and lives in Lubbock.
James Henson teaches government at the University of Texas at Austin, where he directs the nonpartisan Texas Politics Project, providing research on public opinion and policy. He served on the City of Austin Ethics Review Commission from 2009 to 2012.
Ross Hunt runs a Republican political data and consulting firm in Dallas that does survey research and modeling in state and federal elections. He has polled for state races across the country and in Texas.
Artemio Muniz is the chairman of the Texas Federation of Hispanic Republicans, which supports Hispanic Republican candidates. He is a lawyer and a strategist who focuses on immigration policy and voter engagement. He lives in Houston.
Kel Seliger represented a West Texas district covering parts of the Panhandle, South Plains and the Permian Basin in the State Senate from 2004 to 2023. As a legislator, he supported public education, including issues such as funding and career training. He also served as mayor of Amarillo for four terms.
Brendan Steinhauser runs a political consulting firm in Austin. He was the campaign manager for Senator John Cornyn’s re-election campaign in 2014. He also directs the Alliance for Secure AI, a group that advocates education on artificial intelligence. He is a native of Flatonia, Texas.
