Moran backs Cornyn for Senate

TYLER — East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran is backing U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the upcoming Republican primary runoff, calling the race a defining moment for conservatives. Moran said the contest between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton comes down to what values Republican voters want to uphold. “It’s really a race between character and corruption,” Moran said.

The congressman pointed to past criticism of Paxton, including remarks from former East Texas congressman Louie Gohmert, who has accused Paxton of misconduct. Moran said he agrees with those concerns, arguing that Paxton’s record should disqualify him from serving in the U.S. Senate. In the March 2022 Texas Republican primary for Attorney General, incumbent Paxton defeated Gohment, who finished last with 17% of the vote.

“Ken Paxton really has a consistent activity of corruption, both breaching the trust of the public and breaching the trust of his personal relationships,” Moran said. “That should disqualify him.”

In contrast, Moran described Cornyn as a candidate voters can trust, despite not agreeing on every decision he has made in office. In a recently published op-ed, the congressman emphasized that character and integrity should be top priorities for conservative voters.

This is the first time Moran has endorsed a candidate in a Republican primary, saying the stakes are unusually high.

“This is a touchstone moment for the Republican Party as we’re entering into this runoff race to say, ‘What kind of party are we going to be?’ or are we going to be a party that values character? Are we going to be a party that values Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles that we were founded on?”

Moran joined a group of Republican lawmakers in endorsing Cornyn, weeks after Donald Trump said he would choose a candidate but has yet to do so. Moran also noted the potential influence a Trump endorsement could have on the race, acknowledging that the former president has signaled he still plans to back someone.

“The president’s voice certainly matters,” Moran said. “No question about that.”

However, he said his endorsement decision was made independently, based on his view of the candidates and what the party represents moving forward.

Cornyn has held his U.S. Senate seat since 2002 and won reelection in 2008, 2014, and 2020. If he wins another term, his tenure would reach 30 years, surpassing the 28?year record as the longest?serving U.S. Senator from Texas.

Paxton has been serving as the Texas Attorney General since 2015. Recently, he received 13 additional endorsements from state-level officials, increasing his total to 250 endorsements from Texas Republican leaders. He is also supported by the NRA Political Victory Fund and Turning Point USA. Additionally, he was recently endorsed by Representative Brandon Gill, whose district is located north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.