John Cornyn

John Cornyn is the senior United States Senator from Texas, having served since 2002. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 49th Attorney General of Texas and as an Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Cornyn has held several leadership positions within the Senate Republican Conference, including Majority Whip and Minority Whip.

Early life and education

He was born in Houston and spent part of his childhood in San Antonio. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Trinity University in 1973. Cornyn then received his Juris Doctor from the St. Mary's University School of Law in 1977. During his early career, he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force's Judge Advocate General's Corps.

Legal and judicial career

He began his legal career in private practice in San Antonio. In 1985, he was appointed as a judge for the 37th District Court of Texas in Bexar County by Governor Mark White. In 1990, he was elected as an Associate Justice to the Texas Supreme Court, where he served until 1997. His judicial tenure was followed by his election as the Attorney General of Texas in 1998, succeeding Dan Morales.

U.S. Senate career

He was elected to the United States Senate in 2002, filling the seat vacated by retiring Senator Phil Gramm. He has been re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. In the Senate, he served as the Republican Whip from 2013 to 2019, first as Minority Whip and then as Majority Whip following the 2014 elections. He has served on key committees including the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He played a significant role in the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Political positions

He is generally considered a conservative Republican. He has been a strong supporter of gun rights and has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. On fiscal policy, he supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and has advocated for a balanced budget amendment. He has taken a hardline stance on immigration, supporting enhanced border security and the construction of a border wall. He is a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act and has voted for its repeal. In foreign policy, he has been a supporter of a strong alliance with Israel and has taken a hawkish stance toward nations like Iran and China.

Electoral history

He won his first statewide office in the 1998 Texas Attorney General election. He was elected to the United States Senate in the 2002 election, defeating Ron Kirk. He was re-elected in the 2008 election against Rick Noriega, in the 2014 election against David Alameel, and in the 2020 election against MJ Hegar. In 2022, he was a candidate for Senate Minority Leader but withdrew, with the position ultimately going to Mitch McConnell.

Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from Texas