Wesley Hunt Dismisses 'Voter Fraud' Allegations as Sign of Surging Senate Campaign

Houston congressman says rival's attacks show his Republican primary campaign is gaining momentum.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, dismissed allegations of voter fraud made by his primary rival Sen. John Cornyn's campaign. Hunt said the inaccurate date on a 2016 provisional ballot was a clerical error, and that the attacks show his campaign is surging. Hunt, who is running against Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, said he made a tactical vote for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary to help the eventual Republican nominee.

Why it matters

The allegations of voter fraud could impact the increasingly caustic Republican Senate primary in Texas, where polling suggests none of the three candidates will win a majority, leading to a runoff. Hunt, who is lagging in fundraising, is running a grassroots campaign to meet voters, and the attacks from his opponents could be a sign that his campaign is gaining momentum.

The details

Cornyn's campaign says Hunt committed voter fraud by signing 2016 provisional ballot paperwork that listed an incorrect discharge date from the military. Hunt blamed the inaccurate date on a clerical error, and said his opponent's attacks show the Hunt campaign is surging. Hunt, an Apache helicopter pilot who served in the Army, is running against the more experienced Cornyn and Paxton in the March 3 primary.

  • Early voting starts Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • The Republican primary election is on March 3, 2026.
  • If no candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff in May 2026.

The players

Wesley Hunt

A Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Texas, currently serving his second term in Congress. He is an Apache helicopter pilot who served in the Army and has three master's degrees from Cornell University.

John Cornyn

The incumbent U.S. Senator from Texas, who is running for re-election in the Republican primary.

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General, who is also running against Cornyn and Hunt in the Republican Senate primary.

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What they’re saying

“As an Apache helicopter pilot, it means I must be right over the target zone.”

— Wesley Hunt (Dallas Morning News)

“Wesley Hunt has now unwittingly proved he committed voter fraud by lying in a sworn statement to an Election Judge both verbally and on a sworn document.”

— Matt Mackowiak, Senior Adviser, John Cornyn Campaign (Dallas Morning News)

“The clerk added that. It clearly was a misunderstanding – the portion of it I signed had nothing to do with that.”

— Wesley Hunt (Dallas Morning News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.