Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, May 19, 2026

In about a week, Texans will vote in a runoff election to decide which Republican will face Democrat James Talarico in November for the chance to serve in the US Senate. Although incumbent Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton could not be more different men, the two are nearly tied in the polls and campaigning on the same message: loyalty to President Donald Trump.

Open Cornyn’s campaign website, and you’ll be met by the words: “Cornyn votes with Trump 99% of the time” and a picture of him and Trump standing shoulder to shoulder.

Open Paxton’s website and you’ll see his top policy priority: “Carry the torch for Trump’s agenda.” The photo at the bottom of the homepage? Him and Trump giving a thumbs-up.

Is this what the job of senator has become? The Founders designed the Senate to be the greatest deliberative body in the world, the cold saucer for the hot tea of our political passions, a chamber that pulls equally from across the nation to represent different geographic and ideological viewpoints. Instead, it would appear that the main criterion for this esteemed office is to become a handmaiden to the most powerful politician in the world.

It makes me sad. All this power consolidated. I was especially sad for Cornyn, who while understandably trying to win the race (and in Texas, Trump’s favor matters), certainly knows that the office is more than unquestioned loyalty. He has spent two decades in those halls and has worked to bridge divides on issues from immigration to guns.