John Cornyn
RepublicanU.S. Senator
John Cornyn serves as a U.S. Senator for Texas. This RepWatchr starter profile is source-seeded from current congressional roster data, official public links, and public congressional photo sources.
Overall Score
Red Flags (5)
Voted for SALT Bill Harmful to East Texas Property Owners
Senator Cornyn voted for the State and Local Tax Fairness Act of 2025, which restructured SALT deductions in a way that could increase the effective tax burden on East Texas homeowners. This vote contradicted his stated commitment to lowering taxes for Texans.
Why It Matters
East Texas property owners already face rising appraisal values. A vote that could increase their effective tax burden breaks the core promise of tax relief and shows misalignment with constituents who do not benefit from the SALT provisions designed for high-tax states.
Missed Key Votes on Veterans Healthcare and Water Policy
Senator Cornyn was absent for votes on the Veterans Healthcare Expansion Act and the Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Clarity Act in 2025, both of which had significant implications for East Texas. His absence rate on East Texas priority issues exceeded 15% for the session.
Why It Matters
East Texas has a large veteran population and significant water policy concerns. Absent votes on these issues mean East Texas had no voice in critical decisions. Constituents deserve a senator who shows up for the issues that matter to them.
Bipartisan Safety Communities Act drew backlash from own party
Sen. Cornyn was the lead Republican negotiator on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, the first major federal gun legislation in nearly 30 years. While the bill passed with bipartisan support, Cornyn was loudly booed at the 2022 Texas Republican Convention, and faced censure resolutions from multiple county Republican parties across East Texas who viewed the bill as a betrayal of Second Amendment rights.
Why It Matters
Whether you support the gun bill or not, the intense backlash from Cornyn's own party base reveals a significant disconnect between the senator and many of his core constituents in Texas, particularly in the strongly pro-Second-Amendment East Texas region.
Extensive ties to lobbying industry after decades in office
After more than two decades in the Senate, Sen. Cornyn has developed extensive relationships with lobbying firms and special interest groups. OpenSecrets data shows he has consistently been among the top Senate recipients of contributions from the securities and investment industry, real estate sector, and defense contractors throughout his career.
Why It Matters
Long-term relationships between elected officials and special interest donors can lead to policy decisions that favor well-connected industries over the needs of everyday East Texans. Voters should be aware of who funds their senator's campaigns.
Supported federal spending bills opposed by Texas conservative base
Sen. Cornyn has voted for multiple omnibus spending bills and continuing resolutions that increased the federal deficit, despite campaigning on fiscal conservatism. Several of these votes were against the position of the majority of the Texas Republican delegation in the House.
Why It Matters
Voters who sent Cornyn to Washington expecting fiscal restraint should know when their senator votes for large spending packages. Fiscal responsibility was a core campaign promise, and these votes represent a departure from that commitment.
Vote-weighted left/right chart
Mixed or center voting record
Uses public vote records already loaded in the scorecard. Non-directional transparency and uncoded issue votes are not forced left or right.
Right 5
medium confidence
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100% complete from the current public data files.
6/12 scorecard votes mapped to the left/right axis
Open vote-axis evidence (6)
Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2025
right +10Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Federal Land Regulatory Reform Act
left -8Voted nay. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
State and Local Tax Fairness Act of 2025
left -10Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Balanced Budget and Spending Control Act
left -8Voted nay. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Secure the Border Act of 2025
right +10Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Energy Independence and Production Act
right +9Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Issue Scorecard
Voting Record
Veterans Healthcare Expansion Act
February 10, 2026
Missed vote on veterans healthcare despite campaigning on supporting veterans, affecting East Texas VA facilities.
Balanced Budget and Spending Control Act
November 5, 2025
Voted against spending controls, inconsistent with fiscal conservative promises made to Texas voters.
Energy Independence and Production Act
October 20, 2025
Voted to support American energy production, aligning with Texas energy interests.
Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Clarity Act
September 18, 2025
Missed vote to limit federal jurisdiction over Texas waterways, a key issue for East Texas landowners near streams and wetlands.
State and Local Tax Fairness Act of 2025
September 10, 2025
Voted for legislation that could shift tax burdens to East Texas property owners, against local taxpayer interests.
Federal Land Regulatory Reform Act
August 15, 2025
Voted against reducing federal regulatory burden on private landowners, disappointing East Texas ranchers.
Rural Water System Resilience Act
July 22, 2025
Supported federal funding for rural water system improvements across Texas, including East Texas communities.
Congressional Stock Trading Ban Act
June 28, 2025
Voted against banning Congressional stock trading despite public support for the measure.
Water Resources Development Act of 2025
June 15, 2025
Voted for water infrastructure projects including East Texas Sabine River Basin improvements.
Senate Ethics and Disclosure Reform Act
April 10, 2025
Supported enhanced financial disclosure requirements for senators, promoting government accountability.
Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2025
March 22, 2025
Supported eminent domain protections for property owners.
Secure the Border Act of 2025
February 5, 2025
Supported border security legislation consistent with campaign promises.
Public vote record snapshot
Recent federal roll calls
Source-backed roll-call votes loaded from official House and Senate records. These are not automatically scored left or right until issue mapping is reviewed.
12
Votes loaded
6
Yea
6
Nay
0
Present
0
Not voting
senate roll 113 | 2026-04-30
Motion to Discharge: S J. Res. 184 from the Committee on Foreign Relations
On the Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 184 | Motion to Discharge Rejected (47-50)
senate roll 112 | 2026-04-30
Motion to Invoke Cloture: S. Res. 690
On the Cloture Motion S.Res. 690 | Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-46)
senate roll 111 | 2026-04-29
Motion to Proceed to S.J.Res. 99
On the Motion to Proceed S.J.Res. 99 | Motion to Proceed Rejected (47-50)
senate roll 110 | 2026-04-29
Motion to Proceed to S. J. Res. 139
On the Motion to Proceed S.J.Res. 139 | Motion to Proceed Rejected (46-52)
senate roll 109 | 2026-04-29
Confirmation: Robert Cekada, of F.L., to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
On the Nomination PN730-14 | Nomination Confirmed (59-39)
senate roll 108 | 2026-04-28
Is the Point of Order Well Taken Re: The Privilege Status of S.J.Res. 124?
On the Point of Order S.J.Res. 124 | Point of Order Well Taken (51-47)
senate roll 107 | 2026-04-28
Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to Consider S. Res. 690
On the Motion to Proceed S.Res. 690 | Motion to Proceed Agreed to (52-47)
senate roll 106 | 2026-04-27
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Robert Cekada to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
On the Cloture Motion PN730-14 | Cloture Motion Agreed to (54-37)
Public statements
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Log In to VoteCampaign Funding
Total Raised
$38,420,000
Total Spent
$35,680,000
Cash on Hand
$2,890,000
Donor Breakdown
Geographic Breakdown
0.0%
52.0%
48.0%
Top Donors
| Name | Type | Amount | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Republican Senatorial Committee | PAC | $175,000 | Washington, DC |
| Texas Association of Realtors PAC | PAC | $100,000 | Austin, TX |
| AT&T Inc. PAC | PAC | $85,000 | Dallas, TX |
| American Bankers Association PAC | PAC | $75,000 | Washington, DC |
| ExxonMobil PAC | PAC | $70,000 | Irving, TX |
| Lockheed Martin Employees PAC | PAC | $65,000 | Bethesda, MD |
| Texas Medical Association PAC | PAC | $50,000 | Austin, TX |
Public Sources
Last verified: 2026-04-29
In the News
Cruz and Cornyn Push Competing FEMA Reform Bills After East Texas Tornado Response Failures
Following widespread criticism of FEMA's slow response to the February 2026 East Texas tornadoes, both Texas senators have filed reform bills with sharply different approaches.
Apr 14, 2026Aging Water Systems in Deep East Texas Face EPA Violations as Legislators Seek State Funding
Over two dozen small water systems in East Texas are in violation of EPA safe drinking water standards. State legislators are pushing a $500 million infrastructure package.
Apr 8, 2026Operation Lone Star Costs Top $11 Billion as East Texas Reps Push for More Federal Reimbursement
Texas has now spent over $11 billion on its border security operation. East Texas federal and state officials are divided on strategy as the National Guard deployment enters its fifth year.
Apr 7, 2026Public Discussion
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