{"id":2608158,"date":"2026-05-29T07:42:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T11:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-to-lose-clout-in-congress-after-exits-and-primary-losses\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T07:42:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T11:42:47","slug":"texas-to-lose-clout-in-congress-after-exits-and-primary-losses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-to-lose-clout-in-congress-after-exits-and-primary-losses\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas to lose clout in Congress after exits and primary losses"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftexas-to-lose-clout-in-congress-after-exits-and-primary-losses%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608158&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several prominent members of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"31\">Congress<\/a> from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas<\/a> are retiring at the end of this year, in what could fundamentally reshape the makeup of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/capitol-hill\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2382\">Capitol Hill<\/a> and the tenure of lawmakers from the Lone Star State.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just a few months ago, four-term Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"965\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX) was a few votes shy of being elected majority leader of the Senate. Now, he\u2019s headed for the exit after losing a bruising GOP primary to Texas Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4370\">Ken Paxton<\/a>, who garnered President Donald Trump\u2019s endorsement.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586358\/gop-low-t-strategy-against-james-talarico\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>The GOP\u2019s \u2018low-T\u2019 strategy against Talarico in Texas<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586334\/abdul-el-sayed-pac-funds-consultants\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>El-Sayed PAC spent majority of funds on consultants, records show<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586603\/platner-collins-feud-over-iraq-war-service\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner and Collins feud over his \u2018decision to serve\u2019 in Iraq War: \u2018Slap in the face\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn\u2019s departure means Texas could likely lose sway in the Senate. Although not a committee chairman, Cornyn is popular among senators from both parties and is a former GOP whip. Cornyn also holds a seat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which is responsible for tax policy and other fiscal matters.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Texas senator has also been at the center of bipartisan dealmaking, including a 2022 gun control bill that became an issue in his primary this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn is far from the only veteran Texas lawmaker leaving Washington. Several senior members of the state\u2019s sprawling 38-member House delegation are also retiring, taking with them years of institutional knowledge, committee seniority, and influence over policy areas critical to Texas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX), who was instrumental in helping pass Trump\u2019s signature tax cuts last year. Arrington also serves on the tax writing House Ways and Means Committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also quitting from the Ways and Means Committee is Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), who is the top Democrat on the panel\u2019s health subcommittee. Doggett has served in the House since 1995, and decided to retire rather than face Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) in a primary after their seats were drawn together by mid-decade redistricting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of the departures reflect the ambitions and volatility of Texas Republicans in the Trump era.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), one of the first black Republicans elected to Congress from Texas, abandoned his House seat to launch a Senate campaign against Paxton and Cornyn. Hunt failed to secure enough support to advance to the May runoff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chip-roy\/\">Chip Roy<\/a> (R-TX) became one of the most recognizable conservative fighters in Congress during his time on Capitol Hill. That influence was not enough to win the Republican nomination for Texas attorney general, however. Roy lost that contest to state Sen. Mayes Middleton in a runoff on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) was also ousted in a GOP primary in March. A one time GOP star, Crenshaw fell afoul of the MAGA movement and lost renomination to state Rep. Steve Toth. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4584367\/big-2026-races-trump-could-wade-into-next\/\">WHAT BIG 2026 RACES COULD TRUMP WADE INTO NEXT?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another longtime Texas Democrat also recently lost his seat in a primary. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was defeated by Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) in Tuesday\u2019s runoff after their districts were drawn together via mid-decade redistricting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Green, 78, has served in the House since 2005 and has become known for his long floor speeches and attempts to impeach Trump. Last year, Green was ejected from Trump\u2019s address to Congress after repeatedly interrupting and waving his cane at the president. The antic saw Green get censured by the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Several prominent members of Congress from Texas are retiring at the end of this year, in what could fundamentally reshape the makeup of Capitol Hill and the tenure of lawmakers from the Lone Star State.\u00a0 Just a few months ago, four-term Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) was a few votes shy of being elected majority leader<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3691,"featured_media":2608159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-fqtrhcpk2-1779995508722-e1779995650836.jpg?1779981239&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2608158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-fqtrhcpk2-1779995508722-e1779995650836.jpg?1779981239&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608158"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608158\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}