View source for John Cornyn

{{Short description|American politician and attorney (born 1952)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = John Cornyn
| image               = John Cornyn.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2017
| jr/sr               = United States Senator
| state               = [[Texas]]
| alongside           = [[Ted Cruz]]
| term_start          = December 2, 2002
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Phil Gramm]]<!--
| successor           =  -->
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Senate positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office1             = Chair of the [[International Narcotics Control Caucus|Senate Narcotics Caucus]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 2025
| term_end1           = 
| predecessor1        = [[Sheldon Whitehouse]]
| successor1          = 
| term_start2         = January 3, 2019
| term_end2           = January 20, 2021
| predecessor2        = Chuck Grassley
| successor2          = [[Sheldon Whitehouse]]
| office3             = Ranking Member of the [[International Narcotics Control Caucus|Senate Narcotics Caucus]]
| term_start3         = January 20, 2021
| term_end3           = January 3, 2023
| predecessor3        = [[Dianne Feinstein]]
| successor3          = [[Chuck Grassley]]
| office4             = [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Whip]]
| leader4             = [[Mitch McConnell]]
| term_start4         = January 3, 2015
| term_end4           = January 3, 2019
| predecessor4        = [[Dick Durbin]]
| successor4          = [[John Thune]]
| office5             = [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Whip]]
| leader5             = Mitch McConnell
| term_start5         = January 3, 2013
| term_end5           = January 3, 2015
| predecessor5        = [[Jon Kyl]]
| successor5          = Dick Durbin
| office6             = Chair of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]]
| term_start6         = January 3, 2009
| term_end6           = January 3, 2013
| predecessor6        = [[John Ensign]]
| successor6          = [[Jerry Moran]]
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| office7             = 49th [[Texas Attorney General|Attorney General of Texas]]
| governor7           = [[George W. Bush]]<br>[[Rick Perry]]
| term_start7         = January 13, 1999
| term_end7           = December 1, 2002
| predecessor7        = [[Dan Morales]]
| successor7          = [[Greg Abbott]]
| office8             = [[List of justices of the Texas Supreme Court|Justice of the Texas Supreme Court]]
| term_start8         = January 2, 1991
| term_end8           = October 18, 1997
| predecessor8        = [[Franklin S. Spears|Franklin Spears]]
| successor8          = [[Deborah Hankinson]]
| office9             = Judge of the [[Texas District Courts|Texas 37th Judicial District Court]]
| term_start9         = January 1, 1985
| term_end9           = January 1, 1991
| predecessor9        = Richard Woods
| successor9          = Ann-Marie Aaron
| birth_name          = John Cornyn III
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1952|2|2}}
| birth_place         = [[Houston]], Texas, U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Sandy Hansen|1979}}
| children            = 2
| education           = [[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[St. Mary's University, Texas]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])<br>[[University of Virginia]] ([[Master of Laws|LLM]])
| website             = {{url|cornyn.senate.gov|Senate website}}<br>{{url|johncornyn.com|Campaign website}}
|module      = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = John Cornyn remarks on George Floyd and the naming of Juneteenth as a National Holiday.ogg
|title       = Cornyn's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Cornyn on [[George Floyd]] and the naming of [[Juneteenth]] as a national holiday.<br>Recorded June 16, 2021.}}
}}
'''John Cornyn III''' ({{IPAc-en|'|k|ɔːr|n|ɪ|n}} {{Respell|KOR|nin}}; born February 2, 1952) is an American politician, attorney, and former jurist serving as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Texas]], a seat he has held since 2002. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he served on the [[Supreme Court of Texas|Texas Supreme Court]] from 1991 to 1997 and as [[attorney general of Texas|Texas attorney general]] from 1999 to 2002.

Born in [[Houston]], Cornyn is a graduate of [[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University]] and [[St. Mary's University School of Law]] and received an [[Master of Laws|LL.M.]] degree from the [[University of Virginia School of Law]]. He was a judge on Texas's 37th District Court from 1985 to 1991.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.yourhonor.com/web/images/pdfs/IC/1980s/December1984.pdf |title=New Judges |magazine=In Chambers |volume=11 |issue=3 |date=December 1984 |page=16 |access-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128060750/https://www.yourhonor.com/web/images/pdfs/IC/1980s/December1984.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=January 1992 |title=New Judges |url=http://www.yourhonor.com/web/images/pdfs/IC/1990s/January1992.pdf |magazine=In Chambers |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=11 |access-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128052629/https://www.yourhonor.com/web/images/pdfs/IC/1990s/January1992.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was elected an associate justice of the [[Supreme Court of Texas|Texas Supreme Court]], where he served from 1991 to 1997.

In 1998, Cornyn was elected Attorney General of Texas, serving one term before winning a seat in the U.S. Senate in [[2002 United States Senate election in Texas|2002]]. He was reelected in [[2008 United States Senate election in Texas|2008]], [[2014 United States Senate election in Texas|2014]], and [[2020 United States Senate election in Texas|2020]]. Cornyn chaired the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] from 2009 to 2013, and served as the [[United States Senate Republican Whip|Senate majority whip]] for the [[114th United States Congress|114th]] and [[115th United States Congress|115th]] Congresses.<ref name="Brett">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/congressional-leadership-elections-pelosi-seeks-to-shore-up-votes-for-speaker/2018/11/14/e9443c14-e813-11e8-b8dc-66cca409c180_story.html |title=Congressional leadership elections: House Republicans elect Kevin McCarthy as next leader; Pelosi seeks to shore up votes for speaker|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|author1=John Wagner|author2=Mike DeBonis|date=November 14, 2018|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Cornyn Elected To NRSC Chairmanship |website=[[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] |url=http://www.nrsc.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=1792 |date=November 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120050852/http://www.nrsc.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=1792 |archive-date=November 20, 2008}}</ref>

If reelected to the Senate in 2026, Cornyn is set to become the dean of [[United States congressional delegations from Texas|Texas's congressional delegation]], as Representative [[Lloyd Doggett]] is retiring in 2027 due to [[2025 Texas redistricting|redistricting]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Venkat |first1=Surina |title=Lloyd Doggett won't seek reelection in light of Supreme Court's Texas redistricting ruling |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5636076-doggett-announces-retirement-after-redistricting/ |access-date=December 5, 2025 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=December 5, 2025}}</ref>

==Early life, education, and legal career==
[[File:Justice John Cornyn.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cornyn in 1991 during his tenure as a Texas Supreme Court Justice]]
Cornyn was born in [[Houston]], the second child of Atholene Gale Cornyn (née Danley) and John Cornyn II, a colonel in the [[U.S. Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Rootsweb Senatorial Genealogies|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/cornyn.htm|access-date=September 19, 2007|archive-date=October 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011002631/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/cornyn.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He attended the [[American School in Japan]] after his family moved to [[Tokyo]] in 1968, and graduated from it in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.asij.ac.jp/page.aspx?pid=531 |title=Prominent Alumni |website=[[American School in Japan]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331221307/http://community.asij.ac.jp/page.aspx?pid=531 |archive-date=March 31, 2012 }}</ref> In 1973, he graduated from [[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University]], where he majored in [[journalism]] and was a member of Chi Delta Tau.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Senator to Address Trinity University Undergraduates|date=April 22, 2004 |website=[[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University]] |type=press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230618/http://www.trinity.edu/departments/public_relations/news_releases/0422commencement.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url=http://www.trinity.edu/departments/public_relations/news_releases/0422commencement.htm |access-date=March 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chi Delta Tau – Alumni Association Foundation |url=http://www.trinity.edu/student_org/chidelts/Alumni/AlumniAssociationFoundation/alumfound.html|access-date=September 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210445/http://www.trinity.edu/student_org/chidelts/Alumni/AlumniAssociationFoundation/alumfound.html|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> Cornyn earned a [[Juris Doctor]] from [[St. Mary's University School of Law]] in 1977 and an [[Master of Laws|LL.M.]] from the [[University of Virginia School of Law]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Senator John Cornyn to Speak at Opening of Center for Terrorism Law as St. Mary's University School of Law|url=http://www.stmarytx.edu/news/index.php?section=archives&id=387|website=[[St. Mary's University, Texas|St. Mary's University]]|access-date=September 19, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Alumni in the News, 2002 |url=http://www.law.virginia.edu/home2002/html/alumni/alumninews_02.htm|website=[[University of Virginia School of Law]] |access-date=September 19, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901221405/http://www.law.virginia.edu/home2002/html/alumni/alumninews_02.htm|archive-date=September 1, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was named the St. Mary's Distinguished Law School Graduate in 1994, and a Trinity University Distinguished Alumnus in 2001.<ref name="about">{{cite web |title=About John Cornyn: Biography |url=https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/page/about-john-cornyn |website=Office of Senator John Cornyn |date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=March 1, 2018 |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221215543/https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/page/about-john-cornyn |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1988, Cornyn attended a two-week seminar at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]], jointly hosted by the [[National Judicial College]] at the [[University of Nevada, Reno]] and [[Florida State University College of Law|Florida State University’s College of Law]].<ref name=":4">{{cite web|date=October 31, 2020|title=Texas GOP senator didn't "graduate" from Oxford University law program, as claimed in prior campaign|url=https://www.salon.com/2020/10/30/texas-gop-senator-didnt-graduate-from-oxford-university-law-program-as-claimed-in-prior-campaign/|access-date=October 31, 2020|website=Salon|language=en}}</ref> The seminar, held on the Oxford campus, was not academically affiliated with the university.<ref name=":4" />

Cornyn served as a district judge in [[San Antonio]] for six years before being elected as a Republican in 1990 to the [[Texas Supreme Court]], on which he served for seven years.

==Texas attorney general==
===1998 election===
In [[1998 Texas Attorney General election|1998]], Cornyn ran for [[Texas attorney general]]. In the March Republican primary, [[Texas Railroad Commission|Railroad Commissioner]] [[Barry Williamson]] received 38% of the vote, and Cornyn, a former Texas Supreme Court justice, received 32%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=222581|title=TX Attorney General – R Primary|website=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> In the April runoff election, Cornyn defeated Williamson, 58% to 42%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=222670 |title=TX Attorney General – R Runoff |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=August 10, 2014}}</ref> Cornyn won the general election with 54% of the vote; he defeated [[Jim Mattox]], a former Texas attorney general (1983–1991) and [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=95242|title=TX Attorney General|website=Our Campaigns |access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> Cornyn was the first Republican-elected attorney general of Texas since [[Reconstruction era|Reconstruction]], and was sworn in by then-Governor [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="about"/>

===Tenure===
[[File:JohnCornynAttorneyGeneral1997.jpg|thumb|left|John Cornyn in 1997]]
In September 2000, Cornyn created the Texas Internet Bureau to investigate illegal internet practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2000 |title=Attorney General Cornyn starts new Internet Bureau |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2000/09/18/daily24.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230427050657/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2000/09/18/daily24.html |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=[[American City Business Journals]]}}</ref> The Internet Bureau was funded through an $800,000 grant from Governor Bush’s office, and its mission was to "help fight [[cybercrime]] in Texas, including consumer fraud, hacker break-ins, and online child exploitation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Gary |date=February 2001 |title=Web Gumshoes |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/web-gumshoes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230427054507/https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/web-gumshoes/ |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=[[Texas Monthly]]}}</ref> Cornyn investigated fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/tx_cornyn.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603082207/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/tx_cornyn.html|archive-date=June 3, 2012|title=Online NewsHour: The Texas Senate Race – John Cornyn Biography<!--Bot generated title.-->|website=[[PBS]]|access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref>

Cornyn was criticized by civil rights groups for failing to investigate in a timely manner the false drug convictions of numerous African Americans in [[Tulia, Texas]]. On September 6, 2002, ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' reported that Cornyn had announced that his office would investigate the 1999 drug bust, where the testimony of one narcotics agent led to the arrests of 46 people, 43 of whom were Black.<ref>{{cite news|last=Apple|first=Lauri|title=Tulia, Too Late|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2002-09-06/101775/|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|date=September 6, 2002}}</ref>

In 2005, Cornyn was mentioned as a possible replacement for [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] Justices [[Sandra Day O'Connor]] and [[William Rehnquist]].<ref name="c">{{cite news|title=Possible Nominees to the Supreme Court|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 1, 2005|access-date=October 1, 2020|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/01/AR2005070100756.html}}</ref>

==United States Senate==
===Elections===

==== 2002 ====
{{main|2002 United States Senate election in Texas}}

In the 2002 Republican primary, Cornyn faced five opponents. Cornyn defeated his closest Republican challenger, the self-financed, Dallas-based international physician Bruce Rusty Lang, by a ten-to-one margin. In the general election, Cornyn defeated Democratic nominee [[Ron Kirk]] in a campaign that cost each candidate over $9 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary?cycle=2002&id=TXS1|website=[[OpenSecrets]] |title=Texas Senate 2002 Race|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

==== 2008 ====
{{main|2008 United States Senate election in Texas}}
[[Texas]] had not elected a Democrat in a statewide election since 1994, and according to [[Rasmussen Reports]] polling, Cornyn had an approval rating of 50% in October 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/texas/election_2008_texas_senate|title=Election 2008: Texas Senate|work=[[Rasmussen Reports]]|access-date=August 13, 2008|archive-date=May 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507022402/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/texas/election_2008_texas_senate|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Christians|Christian]] activist [[Larry Kilgore]] of [[Mansfield, Texas|Mansfield]] challenged Cornyn in the Republican primary, but Cornyn easily defeated him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-ussenate_05pol.ART.State.Edition2.46a563a.html|title=Noriega avoids runoff in Senate bid; Cornyn wins easily|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|access-date=August 13, 2008|archive-date=September 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919041018/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-ussenate_05pol.ART.State.Edition2.46a563a.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Texas House of Representatives|Texas Representative]] [[Rick Noriega]] won the March{{spaces}}4 Democratic primary against Gene Kelly, Ray McMurrey, and Rhett Smith. Yvonne Adams Schick was the [[U.S. Libertarian Party|Libertarian Party]]'s nominee,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tx.lp.org/candidates.shtml|title=2008 candidates|website=[[Libertarian Party of Texas]] |access-date=August 13, 2008|archive-date=January 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113172313/http://www.tx.lp.org/candidates.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Green Party of Texas]] sought ballot access for its candidate, David B. Collins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://txgreens.org/drupal/node/43|title=2008 Candidate Campaigns for TX |website=[[Green Party of Texas]]|access-date=August 13, 2008|archive-date=February 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203185343/http://txgreens.org/drupal/node/43|url-status=dead}}</ref> The same [[Rasmussen Reports|Rasmussen poll]] showed Cornyn leading Noriega 47% to 43%, suggesting that the race might prove unexpectedly competitive, but most polls showed a much wider margin, and Cornyn was reelected.

==== 2014 ====
[[File:John Cornyn 113th Congress.jpg|thumb|right|Cornyn during the [[113th United States Congress|113th Congress]]]]
[[File:John Cornyn by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|John Cornyn speaking at the 2014 [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in [[National Harbor, Maryland]]]]
[[File:John Cornyn official senate portrait.jpg|thumb|Cornyn during the [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]]]]
{{main|2014 United States Senate election in Texas}}

Cornyn was reelected in 2014, and according to the ''[[Dallas Morning News]]'', "never broke a sweat."<ref name="GilmanDallasNews11042014"/> He won the March Republican primary with 59% of the vote against Houston-area congressman [[Steve Stockman]].<ref name="GilmanDallasNews11042014"/> In the general election, he raised $14 million, outspending Democratic nominee [[David Alameel]] by nearly 3-1.<ref name="GilmanDallasNews11042014"/> Cornyn won again by over 20 points.

==== 2020 ====
{{main|2020 United States Senate election in Texas}}

Cornyn was reelected to a fourth term in 2020 in the closest of his Senate campaigns. He won the primary with 76% of the vote, and then defeated Democrat [[MJ Hegar]] in a race that the [[The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter|Cook Political Report]] had initially rated "Likely Republican" but then shifted to "Lean Republican".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nowlin |first=Sanford |date=October 14, 2020 |title=Nonpartisan political report shows race tightening between MJ Hegar and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas |url=https://www.sacurrent.com/news/nonpartisan-political-report-shows-race-tightening-between-mj-hegar-and-sen-john-cornyn-of-texas-24677729 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230427061751/https://www.sacurrent.com/news/nonpartisan-political-report-shows-race-tightening-between-mj-hegar-and-sen-john-cornyn-of-texas-24677729 |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=[[San Antonio Current]]}}</ref> Cornyn received 5,962,983 votes—more than any Republican Senate candidate had ever received before, breaking the record set by [[Pete Wilson]] of California in 1988. Hegar also set a record, getting more votes than any losing Democrat since [[Leo T. McCarthy]] in the 1988 California Senate race.

====2026====
{{main|2026 United States Senate election in Texas}}

Cornyn has announced his candidacy for a fifth Senate term [[2026 United States Senate election in Texas|in 2026]].<ref>{{Cite podcast |title=A Night with Rennie Mann: From Community Stories to U.S. Senate Candidacy |website=Coyote Nation |via=Podbean |date=October 16, 2024 |url=https://shakam1627.podbean.com/e/from-community-stories-to-us-senate-candidacy-a-night-with-rennie-mann/ |host1=Lewis, Jason |host2=Fikes, Barry |access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref> He faces [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Ken Paxton]] in the primary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Svirnovskiy |first1=Gregory|title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to challenge Cornyn for Senate |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/08/ken-paxton-texas-senate-john-cornyn-00280033 |access-date=April 8, 2025 |work=[[Politico]] |date=April 8, 2025}}</ref>

===Tenure===

In 2004, Cornyn co-founded and became the co-chairman of the U.S. Senate India Caucus.<ref>{{cite web|title=India Caucus formed in US Senate|url=http://www.indianembassy.org/i_digest/2004/may/india_caucus.htm|access-date=September 19, 2007|archive-date=February 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210162914/http://www.indianembassy.org/i_digest/2004/may/india_caucus.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2006, he was selected by his colleagues to join the five-person Republican Senate leadership team as Vice Chairman of the [[Senate Republican Conference]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About the SRC|url=http://src.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSRC.AboutViceChairman|website=[[Senate Republican Conference]]|access-date=September 19, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927031242/http://src.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSRC.AboutViceChairman|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref>

In 2005, Cornyn gained notice by connecting the Supreme Court's reluctance to hear arguments for sustaining [[Terri Schiavo]]'s life with the recent murders of Judge [[Joan Lefkow]]'s husband and mother, as well as the courtroom murder of Judge [[Rowland Barnes]]. Cornyn said: "I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection, but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions, yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up, and building up to the point where some people engage in violence."<ref>Toobin, Jeffrey. ''The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court'', p. 248. Doubleday. {{ISBN|978-0-385-51640-2}}</ref> His statement and a similar one by House Majority Leader [[Tom DeLay]] were widely denounced, including by ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Judges Made Them Do It|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/06/opinion/06wed1.html|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 6, 2005}}</ref> Cornyn later said that the statement was taken out of context, and for that reason, he regretted the statement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge, her family slain, urges home security for jurists|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/18/senate.lefkow/index.html|access-date=February 2, 2014|newspaper=CNN|date=May 19, 2005}}</ref>

On May 18, 2007, Cornyn was involved in a verbal altercation with Senator [[John McCain]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Alexis |date=May 23, 2007 |title=McCain minimizes heated exchange with Cornyn (with audio) |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/McCain-minimizes-heated-exchange-with-Cornyn-1652864.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230427063403/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/McCain-minimizes-heated-exchange-with-Cornyn-1652864.php |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> During a meeting on immigration, McCain and Cornyn had a shouting match when Cornyn started questioning the number of judicial appeals that illegal immigrants could receive. McCain responded by yelling profanity and insults at Cornyn, and followed up with the assertion, "I know more about this than anyone else in the room." Previously, Cornyn told McCain: "Wait a second here. I've been sitting in here for all of these negotiations, and you just parachute in here on the last day. You're out of line."<ref name="mccainvscornyn">{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/05/mccain_cornyn_cursing_showdown.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116005427/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/05/mccain_cornyn_cursing_showdown.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2013|title=McCain, Cornyn Engage in Heated Exchange|first=Paul|last=Kane|newspaper= The Washington Post|date=May 18, 2007|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:President of the United States Donald J. Trump, United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn, and United States Senator from Texas Ted Cruz, August 29, 2017 (36776448741).jpg|thumb|Trump with senators Cornyn and [[Ted Cruz]], August 29, 2017]]
As chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]], Cornyn was a strong supporter of [[Norm Coleman]]'s various [[United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2008#Election contest|court challenges]] to the 2008 election certification of the Minnesota U.S. Senate race.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/03/gop-eyes-bush-v-gore-for-coleman-020084|title=GOP eyes Bush v. Gore for Coleman|last=Raju|first=Manu|author-link=Manu Raju|date=March 17, 2009|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=March 30, 2009}}</ref> Cornyn advocated for Coleman to bring the case before the federal court and said the trial and appeals could take years to complete.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2214074/|title=Franken's Monster Will ''Bush v. Gore'' bite Democrats in ''Coleman v. Franken''?|last=Hasen|first=Richard|date=March 18, 2009|magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|access-date=March 30, 2009}}</ref> Cornyn threatened that Republicans would wage a "[[World War III]]" if Senate Democrats had attempted to seat Democratic candidate [[Al Franken]] before the appeals were complete.<ref name="Senate Recount">{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/03/in-minnesota-its-still-november-020634|title=In Minnesota, it's still November|last=Raju|first=Manu|date=March 30, 2009|work=Politico|access-date=March 30, 2009}}</ref> Coleman conceded after the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] unanimously ruled that Franken had won the election.

Cornyn voted to confirm [[Samuel Alito]] as an [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|Associate Justice of the Supreme Court]] and [[John G. Roberts|John Roberts]] as [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]].<ref name="d" /> In September 2005, during Roberts's Supreme Court hearings, Cornyn's staff passed out [[Bingo (U.S.)|bingo]] cards to reporters. He asked them to stamp their card every time a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee used terms such as "[[far right]]" or "[[extremism|extremist]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Milbank|first=Dana|author-link=Dana Milbank|date=September 16, 2005|title=Final Day of Nomination Hearings: Yawn.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/15/AR2005091501245_pf.html|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> On July 24, 2009, Cornyn announced his intention to vote against President [[Barack Obama|Obama]]'s Supreme Court nominee [[Sonia Sotomayor]], saying that she might rule "from a liberal, activist perspective".<ref>{{cite web|title=Elpasotimes.com|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/texas/ci_12907117|work=El Paso Times.com}}{{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

On the day of Obama's inauguration, it was reported that Cornyn would prevent [[Hillary Clinton]] from being confirmed as [[secretary of state]] by unanimous floor vote that day. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's spokesman reported to the [[Associated Press]] that a roll call vote for the Clinton confirmation would be held instead on the following day, January 21, 2009, and that it was expected Clinton would "receive overwhelming bipartisan support".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://my.xfinity.com/articles/news-politics/20090120/Clinton.Confirmation/|title=AP FACT CHECK: Trump and his oh-so-familiar falsehoods &#124; Xfinity|website=my.xfinity.com}}</ref> The vote was 94–2 in her favor, with only Senators [[Jim DeMint]] and [[David Vitter]] voting in opposition.<ref>[[CNN]] broadcast, ''The Situation Room'', January 21, 2009</ref>

On March 18, 2020, Cornyn blamed the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19 pandemic]] on cultural practices in China and mistakenly blamed China for the [[Middle East respiratory syndrome|MERS]] and [[2009 swine flu pandemic|swine flu epidemics]].<ref>{{cite web |title='China is to blame because the culture': Republican senator mistakenly blames China for MERS and swine flu epidemics |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/republican-senator-mistakenly-blames-china-for-mers-and-swine-flu-2020-3|first=David|last=Choi|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=March 19, 2020|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> His comments were criticized by some Democrats and the National Council of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. At the time, the consensus among researchers was that coronavirus had originated at a [[wet market]] in [[Wuhan]], China.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20200318/cornyn-draws-rebuke-from-democrats-over-comments-about-china-coronavirus-origins|title=Cornyn draws rebuke from Democrats over comments about China, coronavirus origins|last=Tilove|first=Jonathan|website=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|language=en|date=March 18, 2020|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03/18/john-cornyn-texas-coronavirus-china/|title=U.S. Sen. John Cornyn draws rebuke for blaming coronavirus on China|last=Samuels|first=Alex|date=March 19, 2020|work=[[The Texas Tribune]]|language=en|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref>

===Senate Majority Whip===
[[File:CornynMajorityWhip2014.jpg|thumb|Senator John Cornyn as U.S. Senate Majority Whip, after 2014 re-election]]

On November 14, 2012, Cornyn was elected [[Whip (politics)|Senate Minority Whip]] by his peers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rocha |first=Alana |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2012/11/14/cornyn-elected-senate-minority-whip/ |title=Cornyn Elected Senate Minority Whip |work=[[The Texas Tribune]] |date=November 14, 2012|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

Cornyn was named Senate Majority Whip after the 2014 election, in which Republicans gained a Senate majority.<ref name="GilmanDallasNews11042014">Gilman, Todd J. [https://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-politics/2014/11/05/texas-john-cornyn-rises-in-power-in-gop-led-senate Texas's John Cornyn rises in power in GOP-led Senate], ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'', November 4, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2018.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/11/senate-insiders-look-outside-as-they-run-for-re-election/ | work=CNN | title=Senate GOP leaders look outside as they run for re-election | date=July 11, 2013 | access-date=July 16, 2013 | archive-date=July 15, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715091628/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/11/senate-insiders-look-outside-as-they-run-for-re-election/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

After the death of Associate Supreme Court Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] in February 2016, Cornyn said that anyone Obama nominated to replace him would have a difficult confirmation process and feel like a [[piñata]].<ref name="piñata">{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Ted |title=Supreme Court nominee would be a 'piñata,' Cornyn says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/07/politics/john-cornyn-supreme-court-pinata/ |access-date=September 6, 2018 |work=Cable News Network |date=March 7, 2016 |location=Washington |language=en}}</ref> He also said that no serious candidate would accept a nomination knowing that they would not be confirmed. When Obama [[Merrick Garland Supreme Court nomination|nominated Merrick Garland]] to replace Scalia, Cornyn said that even if the president has the constitutional authority to nominate someone, the Senate has full authority on how to proceed. Cornyn also said that the voice of the people should play a role, and that the "only way to empower the American people" was having the vacancy be filled by the winner of the upcoming [[2016 United States presidential election|presidential election]], so no hearings on Garland should be held.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/03/16/sen-cornyn-responds-to-scotus-announcement|title=Cornyn stands ground, vows fight on Supreme Court nominee|last=Leslie|first=Katie|date=March 16, 2016|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|access-date=September 4, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name=Desjardins >{{cite news |last1=Desjardins |first1=Lisa |title=What every Republican senator has said about filling a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-every-republican-senator-has-said-about-filling-a-supreme-court-vacancy-in-an-election-year |access-date=October 4, 2020 |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |date=September 22, 2020}}</ref> The Senate did not vote on Garland's nomination, which expired after the November election of President [[Donald Trump]]. Trump nominated [[Neil Gorsuch]] to the seat, and Gorsuch was confirmed. In September 2020, Cornyn supported a vote on Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by the death of Justice [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]]. In March 2016, he took the position that the Senate should not consider Obama's Supreme Court nominee.<ref name="Desjardins" />

[[File:President Trump and the First Lady in El Paso, Texas (48488017542).jpg|thumb|Cornyn and Trump in [[El Paso, Texas]], on August 7, 2019]]
On June 8, 2017, during a committee hearing whose announced topic was the Russian interference in the 2016 election and Comey's dismissal as FBI director, Cornyn opted instead to spend his time questioning [[James Comey]] on [[Hillary Clinton email controversy|Hillary Clinton's email controversy]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Livingston |first1=Abby |last2=Svitek |first2=Patrick |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/06/08/comey-hearing/|title=Fired FBI director faces panel of Senators including Cornyn |date=June 8, 2017 |work=[[The Texas Tribune]] |access-date=September 18, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2018, during the [[Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination|Supreme Court nomination hearings for Brett Kavanaugh]], Cornyn accused the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee of devolving into mob rule by breaking the rules of decorum when asking for postponement or adjournment of the hearing to obtain or review documents from Kavanaugh's time working for the [[George W. Bush]] administration. Cornyn said that it was hard to believe the Democrats' claim that they could not properly assess Kavanaugh without the documents because it seemed that their minds were already made up.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/404911-cornyn-kavanaugh-hearing-dissolving-into-mob-rule/|title=Cornyn: Kavanaugh hearing dissolving into 'mob rule'|last=Rowland|first=Geoffrey|date=September 4, 2014|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=September 4, 2014|language=en}}</ref>

===2024 Senate Majority Leader election===
In February 2024, Cornyn announced he would run for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] leader after [[Mitch McConnell]] announced he would step down from his position at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Choi |first1=Matthew |date=2024-02-29 |title=John Cornyn announces he's running for Senate GOP leader |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/john-cornyn-senate-leader-mcconnell/ |website=Texas Tribune |access-date=2024-02-29 }}</ref>

Following the [[2024 United States elections|2024 U.S. elections]], in which the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] carried the Senate, Cornyn was one of three announced candidates vying to be the next [[Senate Majority Leader]]. The others were [[Rick Scott]] and [[John Thune]].<ref name=nbc20241107>{{cite news |title=Trump's victory scrambles a three-way race for Senate Republican leader |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republican-leader-election-trump-thune-cornyn-scott-rcna179180 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=2024-11-07 |access-date=2024-11-10 |first1=Frank |last1=Thorp V |first2=Scott |last2=Wong |first3=Ryan |last3=Nobles }}</ref><ref name=nw20241109>{{cite news |title=Could Rick Scott Replace Mitch McConnell? Senate GOP Leader Race Heats Up |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rick-scott-replace-mitch-mcconnell-senate-gop-leader-race-1983273 |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=2024-11-09 |access-date=2024-11-10 |first=Peter |last=Aitken }}</ref>

On November 12, 2024, Senator [[Mike Lee]] hosted a candidates forum, and the [[2024 Senate Republican Conference leadership election|election]] took place the next day.<ref name=nbc20241107/> It was held in a closed-door Republican caucus setting, and senators' votes were not publicized. Cornyn lost to Thune on the second ballot, 24-29.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

=== Committee assignments ===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress|url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htmm|access-date=May 24, 2023|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

*[[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Finance|Committee on Finance]]
**[[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure]]
**[[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness|Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness]]
**[[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight|Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution|Subcommittee on the Constitution]]
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism|Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism]]
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security|Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security]] (ranking member)
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property|Subcommittee on Intellectual Property]]
**[[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law|Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law]]
*[[United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control|Caucus on International Narcotics Control]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Committee Assignments of the 117th Congress |url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm#CornynTX |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=[[United States Senate]]}}</ref>

===Caucus memberships===
* [[Senate Taiwan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Taiwan Caucus 118th Congress (2023-2024)|author=|url=https://fapa.org/senate-taiwan-caucus/|format=|publisher=Formosan Association for Public Affairs|date=February 5, 2004|accessdate=25 March 2025}}</ref>

==Political positions==

Political scientists [[John M. Sides]] and Daniel J. Hopkins characterized Cornyn as "very conservative" in 2015.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hopkins|first1=Daniel J.|title=Political polarization in American politics|author2-link=John M. Sides|last2=Sides|first2=John|publisher=Bloomsbury|year=2015|isbn=978-1-5013-0627-3|page=14|oclc=909308749}}</ref> In 2013, ''[[National Journal]]'' ranked Cornyn the 14th-most [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] Senator.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/53134|title=The 15 Most Conservative Senators|website=National Journal}}</ref> ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' considered him a reliable ally of President [[George W. Bush]] on most issues.<ref>[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/DN-immig_13nat.ART0.State.Edition1.38902b7.html "Bush rallies immigration bill's GOP foes"], ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' June 13, 2006 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204191124/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/DN-immig_13nat.ART0.State.Edition1.38902b7.html |date=February 4, 2009 }}</ref> In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Cornyn fifth among senators for bipartisanship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Work |url=https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-85.html |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=www.thelugarcenter.org}}</ref>

===Abortion===

Cornyn opposes [[abortion]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web|last=RATCLIFFE|first=R. G.|date=June 16, 2007|title=Abortion in spotlight in race to replace Cornyn|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Abortion-in-spotlight-in-race-to-replace-Cornyn-1831214.php|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2007, he voted against a bill that would expand federal funding for [[stem cell research]] that used human embryonic stem cells.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{cite web|date=October 22, 2020|title=John Cornyn On Abortion|url=http://www.issues2000.org/Social/John_Cornyn_Abortion.htm|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=OnTheIssuee.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=S 5 – Stem Cell Research Act of 2007 – National Key Vote|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/3996/12415/15375/john-cornyn-voted-nay-passage-s-5-stem-cell-research-act-of-2007#12415|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=Vote Smart}}</ref> Instead, Cornyn pushed for "several alternatives that would use adult and cord blood stem cells for research [as those] methods have proven to be more productive, and they do not harm or destroy human embryos."<ref name=":5">{{cite web|last=Cornyn|first=John|date=March 9, 2009|title=Sen. Cornyn Calls President's Decision On Human Stem Cells "Ill-Timed And Wrong Direction"|url=https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/sen-cornyn-calls-president%E2%80%99s-decision-human-stem-cells-%E2%80%98ill-timed-and-wrong-direction%E2%80%99|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=Senator John Cornyn|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026065105/https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/sen-cornyn-calls-president%E2%80%99s-decision-human-stem-cells-%E2%80%98ill-timed-and-wrong-direction%E2%80%99|url-status=dead}}</ref> As an alternative, he supported the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act to aid research into techniques of deriving pluripotent stem cells without harming or destroying human embryos.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite web|date=July 18, 2006|title=S.2754 – Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/2754/text|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=Congress.gov|type=Proposed Senate Bill}}</ref>

In 2019, when asked about an Alabama law that prohibited abortions, including in cases of rape or incest, Cornyn said it was an "Alabama state issue".<ref>{{cite web |date=April 30, 2019 |title=Abortion bill: House passes ban including incest, rape |url=https://www.al.com/politics/2019/04/almost-complete-ban-on-abortion-passes-in-alabama-house-74-to-3.html |access-date=October 19, 2020 |website=al |language=en}}</ref>

=== Animal welfare ===
On animal protection issues, Cornyn has received a score of 0 out of 100 in 2025 from the Humane World Action Fund, the political affiliate of [[Humane World for Animals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Scorecard Preview {{!}} Humane World Action Fund |url=https://humaneaction.org/2025-scorecard-preview |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=humaneaction.org |language=en}}</ref> 

Cornyn co-introduced the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which would limit states' ability to regulate the sale of meat from animals raised on farms that do not meet animal welfare standards.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Sen. Marshall Announces Introduction of EATS Act to Ensure State’s Autonomy over Agricultural Practices |url=https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-marshall-announces-introduction-of-eats-act-to-ensure-states-autonomy-over-agricultural-practices/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Senator Roger Marshall |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The EATS Act could jeopardize over a thousand public health, safety, and welfare laws says new report from Harvard |url=https://animal.law.harvard.edu/news-article/the-eats-act/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Harvard Law School - ALPP |language=en-US}}</ref> In a statement, he said, "states like California shouldn't be able to tell ranchers in Texas how to do their jobs."<ref name=":6" /> The bill's critics allege that it jeopardizes farm animal welfare.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oppose: Food Security and Farm Protection Act |url=https://aldf.org/project/oppose-food-security-and-farm-protection-act/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Animal Legal Defense Fund |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Civil rights and law enforcement===

In the 2004 debate surrounding the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]], Cornyn released an advance copy of a speech he was to give at [[The Heritage Foundation]]. In the speech, he wrote, "It does not affect your daily life very much if your neighbor marries a [[box turtle]]. But that does not mean it is right{{spaces}}... Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife." According to his office, he removed the reference to the box turtle in the actual speech,<ref>{{cite news|title=Corrections|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45430-2004Jul12.html|access-date=September 1, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 13, 2004|quote=The June [sic] 12 Politics column quoted Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) discussing gay marriage in a recent speech to the Heritage Foundation. The written text released by Cornyn's office contained the quote, but his office says the senator did not include it in his delivered remarks.}}</ref> but ''[[The Washington Post]]'' ran the quote, as did ''[[The Daily Show]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Lois|last=Romano|title=In Oklahoma, GOP Race Not a Given|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 12, 2004|access-date=October 1, 2020|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43048-2004Jul11.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=The Boys in the Ban| url = http://www.cc.com/video-clips/5sgwoz/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-the-boys-in-the-ban| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151125225501/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/5sgwoz/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-the-boys-in-the-ban| url-status = dead| archive-date = November 25, 2015|time=3:30|series=The Daily Show with Jon Stewart|series-link=The Daily Show|date=July 14, 2004|access-date=April 4, 2014}}</ref>

Cornyn sponsored a bill to allow law enforcement to force anyone arrested or detained by federal authorities to provide samples of their [[DNA]], which would be recorded in a central database.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/23/AR2005092301665.html|title=Bill Would Permit DNA Collection From All Those Arrested |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 23, 2005 |last=Kim |first=Jonathan|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

In a February 24, 2019, tweet, Cornyn mocked dictatorship, centralized power and democratic socialism by quoting Italian fascist leader [[Benito Mussolini]] as saying "We were the first to assert that the more complicated the forms assumed by civilization, the more restricted the freedom of the individual must become."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Republican-Texas-senator-John-Cornyn-Mussolini-on-13642740.php|title=Republican Texas senator John Cornyn quotes Mussolini on Twitter
|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|last=Gilthorpe|first=Darla|date=February 25, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref>

On June 25, 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|overturned]] ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and ''[[Planned Parenthood v. Casey]]'', Cornyn tweeted, "Now do ''[[Plessy v. Ferguson|Plessy vs Ferguson]]''/''[[Brown v. Board of Education|Brown vs Board of Education]]''" in response to former President [[Barack Obama]] condemning the reversal of ''Roe'' in part because of its standing as "50 years of precedent". Representative [[Joaquin Castro]], who interpreted the tweet as advocating the return of segregation in schools, condemned the tweet as racist. Cornyn continued in another tweet, "Thank goodness some SCOTUS precedents are overruled"; ''Brown'' had overturned more than 50 years of precedent regarding the doctrine of "[[separate but equal]]" as defined by ''Plessy''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/john-cornyn-tweet-plessy-v-ferguson-brown-v-board-of-education/287-261b776b-65e5-4578-8f88-e49156cd2148|title=John Cornyn tweet about Brown v. Board of Education goes viral|website=[[WFAA]]|last=Livengood|first=Paul|date=June 25, 2022}}</ref>

===President Donald Trump===
Cornyn has been described as an "immutable Trump ally".<ref>{{cite web|date=February 20, 2020|title=John Cornyn Bets Big on Trump|author-last1=Miller|author-first1=Justin|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/cornyn-trump-2020/|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=The Texas Observer|language=en-US}}</ref> He frequently praised Trump during most of his presidential term. But in the weeks before his reelection campaign, amid a tightening race with Democratic nominee [[MJ Hegar]], Cornyn began to distance himself from Trump. He said that he praised Trump in public but expressed disagreement with him in private.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pengelly|first=Martin|date=October 19, 2020|title=Republican senator tries to distance himself from Trump: 'He is who he is'|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/19/republican-senator-john-cornyn-donald-trump|access-date=October 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Zhou|first=Li|date=October 18, 2020|title=John Cornyn becomes the latest Senate Republican to ramp up criticism of Trump|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/10/18/21521959/john-cornyn-trump-ben-sasse|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=Vox|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020|title=Cornyn says he broke with Trump on deficit, border wall, but kept opposition private|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article246503045.html}}</ref>

During Trump's presidency, Cornyn and fellow Texas Senator [[Ted Cruz]] contributed to the appointment of multiple conservative judges to federal courts with jurisdiction over Texas.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Benning | first1=Tom | title=Trump has stacked federal courts in Texas and beyond with conservative judges, but GOP, Cornyn want more | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/09/10/trump-has-stacked-federal-courts-in-texas-and-beyond-with-conservative-judges-but-gop-cornyn-want-more/ | date=September 10, 2020 | work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] | access-date=October 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Recio | first1=Maria | title=Trump makes mark on Texas judiciary | url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20200214/trump-makes-mark-on-texas-judiciary | date=February 14, 2020 | work=[[Austin American-Statesman]] | access-date=October 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Platoff | first1=Emma | title=Trump-appointed judges are shifting the country's most politically conservative circuit court further to the right | url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/30/under-trump-5th-circuit-becoming-even-more-conservative/ | date=August 30, 2018 | work=[[The Texas Tribune]] | access-date=October 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Benning | first1=Tom | title=Trump's stacking of federal courts in Texas with conservative judges could have decades-long impact | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/03/29/trump-s-stacking-of-federal-courts-in-texas-with-conservative-judges-could-have-decades-long-impact/ | date=March 29, 2019 | work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] | access-date=October 24, 2021}}</ref>

Cornyn repeatedly defended Trump's decision to siphon resources from the Pentagon in order to build a wall on the Mexico border. In March and September 2019, he voted to ratify the maneuver, opposing congressional attempts to block Trump's action. But in late October 2020, as Cornyn was trying to distance himself from Trump, he claimed that he had never supported Trump's maneuver and that he opposed it.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 18, 2020|title=Cornyn defended Trump for siphoning Pentagon budget to pay for border wall, but now claims he was against it|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/10/18/cornyn-defended-trump-for-siphoning-pentagon-budget-to-pay-for-border-wall-but-now-claims-he-was-against-it/|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=The Dallas Morning News|language=en|author-first1=Todd J. |author-last1=Gillman|url-access=limited}}</ref>

Cornyn warned Trump about anticipated negative effects of restructuring tariffs on Mexican exports, saying, "We're holding a gun to our own heads by doing this."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Edmondson|first1=Catie|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|date=June 4, 2019|title=Senate Republicans Warn White House Against Mexico Tariffs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/us/politics/republicans-mexico-tariffs.html|access-date=October 1, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In January 2018, he was one of 36 Republican senators to sign a letter to Trump requesting that he preserve the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] by modernizing it for the 21st-century economy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Needham|first=Vicki|date=January 30, 2018|title=Senate Republicans call on Trump to preserve NAFTA|newspaper=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/371492-senate-republicans-call-on-trump-to-preserve-nafta/|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> Cornyn urged Trump to restart trade talks on the [[Trans Pacific Partnership]], which Trump called "a disaster".<ref>{{cite news|last=Long|first=Heather|date=February 20, 2018|title=25 GOP senators urge Trump to restart TPP trade talks, a deal he called a 'disaster'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/20/25-gop-senators-urge-trump-to-restart-tpp-trade-talks-a-deal-he-called-a-disaster/|access-date=October 1, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

In June 2020, amid reports that Russia had paid the Taliban bounties to kill American soldiers and that Trump had been briefed on the subject months earlier,<ref>{{cite news|last=Martinez|first=Luis|date=July 10, 2020|title=Top Pentagon officials say Russian bounty program not corroborated|website=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-pentagon-officials-russian-bounty-program-corroborated/story?id=71694167}}</ref> Cornyn defended an assertion by Trump that he had never been briefed on the subject. Cornyn said, "I think the president can't single-handedly remember everything, I'm sure, that he's briefed on."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Desiderio|first1=Andrew|last2=LeVine|first2=Marianne|title=Senate Republicans squeeze Trump over Russian bounties|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/29/senate-republicans-trump-russia-345160|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Politico|date=June 29, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

In response to reports that Trump would not be attending [[Joe Biden]]'s inauguration, Cornyn told Cruz and other lawmakers "see you there", implying that he planned to attend,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/534495-cruz-cornyn-to-attend-biden-inauguration/|title=Cruz, Cornyn to attend Biden inauguration|last=Williams|first=Jordan|date=January 15, 2021|work=The Hill|access-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref> which he did.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fine|first=Julie|date=January 20, 2021|title=North Texas Lawmakers on Inauguration and New Administration|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-lawmakers-on-inauguration-and-new-administration/2532160/|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=NBC-DFW}}</ref>

On May 28, 2021, Cornyn voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Washington Post |date=May 28, 2021 |title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/ |last1=Stevenson |first1=Peter |last2=Blanco |first2=Adrian |last3=Santamariña |first3=Daniela}}</ref>

===Foreign policy and national security===
[[File:Senator John Cornyn tours Forward Operating Base Fenty in Jalalabad.jpg|thumb|Cornyn greeting soldiers at [[Forward Operating Base Fenty|FOB Fenty]] in [[Afghanistan]], January 2008]]
In December 2010, Cornyn was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of [[New START|New Start]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Markl|last=Memmott |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |title=Senate Ratifies START |work=[[NPR]]|date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2010}}</ref> a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia that obliges both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads and 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years, and provides a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when [[START I]] expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|title=Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26|first=Peter|last=Baker|author-link=Peter Baker (journalist)|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 22, 2010|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

In 2013, Cornyn said that, despite the sequester, the Pentagon would actually see its budget increase.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/25/politics/budget-republicans/index.html|title=Top Senate Republican doubts damage from defense cuts.|first1=Dana|last1=Bash|first2=Ted|last2=Barrett|author-link1=Dana Bash|date=February 26, 2013|work=CNN|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

In April 2018, Cornyn was one of eight Republican senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Treasury Secretary]] [[Steve Mnuchin]] and acting [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[John J. Sullivan (diplomat)|John Sullivan]] expressing "deep concern" over a [[United Nations]] report exposing "North Korean sanctions evasion involving Russia and China" and asserting that the findings "demonstrate an elaborate and alarming military-venture between rogue, tyrannical states to avoid United States and international sanctions and inflict terror and death upon thousands of innocent people" while calling it "imperative that the United States provides a swift and appropriate response to the continued use of chemical weapons used by [[Bashar al-Assad|President Assad]] and his forces, and works to address the shortcomings in sanctions enforcement".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/383085-key-senators-warn-trump-of-north-korea-effort-on-syria/|title=Key senators warn Trump of North Korea effort on Syria|first=Ellen|last=Mitchell|date=April 13, 2018|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

Cornyn supported U.S. involvement in the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]].<ref name="yemen"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Senate blocks Yemen resolution aimed at restricting US military role |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/the-americas/senate-blocks-yemen-resolution-aimed-at-restricting-us-military-role-1.714789 |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]]|first=Joyce|last=Karam|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> In December 2018 he said that the U.S. should stand with [[Saudi Arabia]] despite the [[assassination of Jamal Khashoggi]], saying: "Saudi Arabia is fighting a proxy war against Iran in Yemen, and an overreaction, in my view, would mean that we cancel arms sales and simply abandon our ally."<ref name="yemen">{{cite news |title=Saudi Arabia's Critics Push for Swift US Senate Action |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/saudi-arabia-critics-press-for-swift-us-senate-action/4689670.html |work=[[VOA News]]|first=Michael|last=Bowman |date=December 6, 2018|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

As Senate Majority Whip, Cornyn filed a resolution welcoming Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], who was to address a joint meeting of Congress in March 2015, a resolution co-sponsored only by Republicans. Vice President Biden and numerous Senate and House Democrats said they would not attend the address.<ref>[https://www.c-span.org/video/?324332-8/senator-cornyn-israeli-prime-minister-visit Senator Cornyn on Israeli Prime Minister Visit], ''[[C-SPAN]]''. February 12, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2019.</ref> Cornyn supported the Senate resolution expressing objection to [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334|UN Security Council Resolution 2334]], which called [[Israeli settlement|Israeli settlement building]] in the occupied [[Palestinian territories]] a flagrant violation of international law.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 5, 2017|title=Bipartisan group of senators call for repealing UN resolution on Israel|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|first=Eric|last=Cortellessa|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/bipartisan-group-of-senators-call-for-repealing-un-resolution-on-israel/|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

Cornyn has been a vocal critic of the [[China|People's Republic of China]]. In August 2018, Cornyn urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials responsible for [[Xinjiang re-education camps|human rights abuses]] against the [[Uyghurs|Uyghur]] [[Islam in China|Muslim]] minority in western China's [[Xinjiang]] region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chairs Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Sanction Chinese Officials Complicit in Xinjiang Abuses|url=https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairs-lead-bipartisan-letter-urging-administration-to-sanction-chinese|website=[[Congressional-Executive Commission on China]]|date=August 29, 2018|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bodeen|first=Christopher|date=August 30, 2018|title=China rejects US lawmakers' sanctions call over Muslim camps|work=Associated Press|url=https://www.apnews.com/22e2fb42383a401ab9a401aa69f79257|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> In a ''Washington Post'' opinion piece, Cornyn wrote that widespread adoption of [[Huawei]] technology could increase vulnerability to cyberattacks and endanger NATO troops engaged on 5G-equipped battlefields.<ref name=Huawei>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keep-the-chinese-government-away-from-5g-technology/2019/04/01/ba7a30ac-54b3-11e9-9136-f8e636f1f6df_story.html|title=Keep the Chinese government away from 5G technology|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first1=Tom|last1=Cotton|first2=John|last2=Cornyn|author-link1=Tom Cotton|date= April 1, 2019|access-date=October 1, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:The Senator Mr. John Cornyn, Republican Co-Chair, Senate India Caucus called on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at Blair House in Washington on July 19, 2005.jpg|thumb|right|Cornyn with [[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]] [[Manmohan Singh]] in 2005]]
Cornyn heightened his [[Anti–People's Republic of China sentiment|anti-China]] advocacy during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and the [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)|U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan]]. He has been widely accused of spreading the [[misinformation]] that [[MERS]] (Middle East respiratory syndrome, a disease first reported from the [[Arabian Peninsula]]) and the [[Swine Flu]] (an epidemic that first emerged in North America) originated from China, because allegedly "people eat bats and snakes and dogs and things like that."<ref>{{cite news |last=Shen-Berro |first=Julian |title=Sen. Cornyn: China to blame for coronavirus, because 'people eat bats' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/sen-cornyn-china-blame-coronavirus-because-people-eat-bats-n1163431 |access-date=August 17, 2021 |work=NBC News |date=March 18, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition to charges of racism, a ''[[Washington Post]]'' article has noted that "none of the diseases he mentioned are linked to dogs and snakes" and that rattlesnake-eating is not popular in China, but is in Cornyn's own Texas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shepherd |first=Katie |title=John Cornyn criticized Chinese for eating snakes. He forgot about the rattlesnake roundups back in Texas. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03/19/coronavirus-china-cornyn-blame/ |access-date=August 17, 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=March 19, 2020}}</ref>

Upon the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Cornyn tweeted that the U.S. still has 30,000 troops in [[Taiwan Island|Taiwan]] (formally the Republic of China); in fact, the U.S. has kept no troops in Taiwan since it [[US China relation|normalized relations]] with the People's Republic of China. Cornyn has since deleted the inaccurate tweet and refused to respond to queries about it.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Senator Cornyn Deletes Erroneous Taiwan Tweet Blasted by Chinese Media |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2021-08-17/us-senator-cornyn-deletes-erroneous-taiwan-tweet-blasted-by-chinese-media |access-date=August 17, 2021 |agency=US News |date=August 17, 2021}}</ref>

After [[Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)|Russia invaded Ukraine]] in 2022, Cornyn said Americans had a "responsibility to support the Ukrainian people as they fight to defend their own sovereignty". He advocated sending [[Military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|military aid]], but also warned that Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]]'s unpredictability could escalate the conflict.<ref>{{cite news|last=Aguilar|first=Julián|url=https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2022-02-25/texans-with-ties-to-ukraine-urge-biden-and-allies-to-offer-more-support|title=Texans with ties to Ukraine urge Biden and allies to offer more support|publisher=[[KERA (FM)]]|date=February 25, 2022|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref> Cornyn introduced the [[Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Bryant|url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2022/04/07/senate-passes-ukraine-bill-to-clear-hurdles-in-loaning-us-military-equipment-to-kyiv/|title=Senate passes bill to clear hurdles in loaning military equipment to Ukraine|newspaper=[[Defense News]]|publisher=[[Sightline Media Group]]|date=April 7, 2022|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref> and cosponsored bills that included statements of solidarity with Ukraine, continuing to supply resources to Ukrainian troops, and renewing the Lend-Lease Act after its expiration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-shaheen-scott-coons-introduce-bill-to-reauthorize-ukraine-lend-lease-program/|title=Cornyn, Shaheen, Scott, Coons Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Ukraine Lend-Lease Program|website=Office of Senator John Cornyn|date=April 18, 2024|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/91/cosponsors|title=S.Res.91 - A resolution acknowledging the third anniversary of Russia's further invasion of Ukraine and expressing support for the people of Ukraine.|website=[[Congress.gov]]|date=February 24, 2025 |access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref> His views brought him into conflict with Texas Attorney General [[Ken Paxton]], who criticized him in 2024 for voting for a $95 million foreign aid package; after Paxton called him an "America Last [[Republican in name only|RINO]]", Cornyn responded that Paxton should focus on his [[Ken Paxton#Texas House investigation and impeachment|legal proceedings]] and "spend less time pushing Russian propaganda".<ref>{{cite news|last=Garrity|first=Kelly|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/13/senate-ukraine-aid-bill-cornyn-00141166|title=Cornyn clashes with Ken Paxton over support for foreign aid bill|website=[[Politico]]|date=February 13, 2024|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref>

===Economy===

Cornyn voted to permanently repeal the [[estate tax]] and raise the estate tax exemption to $5 million. He voted in favor of $350 billion in tax cuts over 11 years and supported making the [[Bush tax cuts]] permanent.<ref name="d"/>{{better source needed|date=August 2020}} He opposed extending the 2011 payroll tax holiday.<ref name="g">{{cite news|title=Top Republican opposes extending U.S. payroll tax cut|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-washington-summit-tax-payroll-idUSTRE7A66W420111107|access-date=October 1, 2020 | date=November 7, 2011|work=Reuters|first=Andy|last=Sullivan}}</ref> He voted for the [[Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008]] but against the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act]] in 2009.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In 2008, Cornyn voted for the [[Troubled Asset Relief Program]] (TARP), also known as the ''Wall Street bailout'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roll Call Vote 110th Congress – 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1102/vote_110_2_00213.htm |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=[[United States Senate]]}}</ref> and later voted to end the program.<ref>{{cite web|title=UPDATED: Cornyn backed Wall Street bailout and law hiking taxes for many, but he's opposed Obamacare and occasionally spurned increases in debt ceiling|first=W. Gardner|last=Selby|work=[[PolitiFact]]|url=http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2013/dec/12/senate-conservatives-fund/cornyn-backed-wall-street-bailout-and-law-hiking-t/|access-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref>

===Environment===

Cornyn voted against a measure recognizing that humans are causing climate change.<ref>{{cite web|title=GOP Tiptoes Toward Climate Plans as Ocasio-Cortez Turns Up Heat|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-11/republicans-who-can-t-ignore-climate-change-seek-gop-solutions|last=Natter|first=Ari|date=April 11, 2019|work=Bloomberg|access-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref> He was one of 22 senators to sign a letter to Trump urging him to withdraw the United States from the [[Paris Agreement]].<ref>{{cite news|date=June 1, 2017|title=The Republicans who urged Trump to pull out of Paris deal are big oil darlings|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/01/republican-senators-paris-climate-deal-energy-donations|first1=Tom|last1=McCarthy|first2=Lauren|last2=Gambino|access-date=June 1, 2017}}</ref> In May 2019, Cornyn said it was important that the United States take measures to [[climate change mitigation|combat climate change]], but condemned the [[Green New Deal]] as proposed by [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Osborne|first1=James|date=May 15, 2019|title=Cornyn takes on climate change, says 'days of ignoring' emissions are over|work=Houston Chronicle|url=https://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Cornyn-says-days-of-ignoring-climate-change-are-13848205.php|access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref> In April 2020, he stated that climate scientists' models of the effects of climate change do not use the "scientific method".<ref>{{cite web|title=Climate Science Deniers Turn to Attacking Coronavirus Models|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-science-deniers-turn-to-attacking-coronavirus-models/|last=Waldman|first=Scott|work=[[Scientific American]]|date=April 15, 2020|language=en|access-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref>

In 2005, Cornyn voted against including oil and gas smokestacks in [[mercury (element)|mercury]] regulations. He voted against factoring [[global warming]] into federal project planning, and against banning [[Oil well|drilling]] in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]]. He also voted against removing oil and gas exploration subsidies.<ref name="d">{{cite web|title=John Cornyn on the Issues|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/John_Cornyn.htm|work=[[On the Issues]]|access-date=September 19, 2007}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2020}} During his tenure in the Senate, Cornyn has scored 0% on the [[League of Conservation Voters]]' environmental scorecard, a system of ranking politicians according to their voting record on environmental legislation.<ref>{{cite web|title=LCV_2006_Scorecard_final.pdf |url=http://www.lcv.org/images/client/pdfs/LCV_2006_Scorecard_final.pdf |access-date=September 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101211219/http://www.lcv.org/images/client/pdfs/LCV_2006_Scorecard_final.pdf |archive-date=November 1, 2006}}</ref>

===Health care===

Cornyn opposes the [[Affordable Care Act]] (also known as Obamacare). He voted against it in 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00396|title=Roll Call Vote 111th Congress – 1st Session: On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 3590 as Amended)|date=August 12, 2014|website=United States Senate |access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> and played a leading role in the attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Despite Texans' support, effort to repeal health care law narrowly defeated in U.S. Senate|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/07/28/health-care-falls-apart-us-senate-congress-leaves-recess/|last=Livingston|first=Abby|date=2017|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Parlapiano|first1=Alicia|last2=Andrews|first2=Wilson|last3=Lee|first3=Jasmine C.|last4=Shorey|first4=Rachel|date=July 28, 2017|title=How Each Senator Voted on Obamacare Repeal Proposals|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/us/politics/senate-votes-repeal-obamacare.html|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Obamacare repeal's top salesman|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/16/john-cornyn-gop-health-care-bill-salesman-240593|last1=Kim|first1=Seung Min|author-link1=Seung Min Kim|last2=Everett|first2=Burgess|website=Politico|language=en|date=July 16, 2017|access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> He voted against the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00105|title=Roll Call Vote 111th Congress – 2nd Session: On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 4872 As Amended)|website=United States Senate |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref> Cornyn said that Senator [[Ted Cruz]]'s 2013 efforts to defund the Affordable Care Act by threatening to default on the U.S. government's debt obligations were "unachievable", adding, "the shutdown did not help our cause. What did help our cause was the president's implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which has overwhelmed everything else. I don't hear anyone thinking that another government shutdown is the way to achieve our goals."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/10/john-cornyn-ted-cruz_n_4419128.html | work=[[HuffPost]] | first=Paige | last=Lavender | title=John Cornyn: 'The Effort To Defund Obamacare Was Not Achievable' | date=December 10, 2013|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> Cornyn joined other Republican leaders to block Cruz's procedural move to reject an increase in the debt ceiling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/debt-ceiling-vote-mitch-mcconnell-john-cornyn-103469.html|title=Behind the scenes of a dramatic debt vote|first1=Manu|last1=Raju|first2=Burgess|last2=Everett|work=Politico|date=February 12, 2014|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

===Guns===
In January 2014, Cornyn introduced the "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act". The bill would provide interstate reciprocity for persons with concealed weapons permits. Cornyn described the bill: "It's like a driver's license. It doesn't trump state laws. Say you have a carry permit in Texas; then you use it in another state that has a concealed-carry law."<ref name="Miller">{{cite news|last=Miller |first=Emily |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/15/concealed-carry-gun-reciprocity-2014-bill-senate/?page=all#pagebreak |title=MILLER: Texas Shootout – John Cornyn and Steve Stockman Senate race is all about gun rights |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|date=January 15, 2014 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117103453/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/15/concealed-carry-gun-reciprocity-2014-bill-senate/?page=all |archive-date=January 17, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> He received an "A" grade from the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]] in 2003<ref name="d"/> and an "A+" grade in 2014<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/texas/ |website=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104203832/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/texas/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |language=en-US |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Miller"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Sonia|date=February 22, 2018|url= https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/texas-nra-campaign-donations/|title=The NRA Spends a Lot of Money on the Texas Congressional Delegation|work=[[Texas Monthly]]|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223061406/https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/texas-nra-campaign-donations/|archive-date=February 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/texas/ |website=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108112412/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/texas |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |language=en-US |url-status=usurped}}</ref> Cornyn continued to support Concealed Carry Reciprocity as of 2018, with the Republican-held House of Representatives passing a bill in late 2017 with this language attached to gun control measures from the Senate's [[Fix NICS Act of 2017|Fix NICS]] bill.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/house-concealed-carry-reciprocity-measure-still-roadblock-gun-legislation|title=House Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Measure Still Roadblock to Gun Legislation|last1=Connolly|first1=Griffin|date=February 27, 2018|work=[[Roll Call]]|access-date=March 6, 2018|last2=Connolly|first2=Griffin|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227223132/https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/house-concealed-carry-reciprocity-measure-still-roadblock-gun-legislation|archive-date=February 27, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2017, Cornyn helped Democrats pass legislation designed to aid federal agencies in alerting, reporting and recording gun purchases by creating a universal cross-agency database.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/03/cornyn-guns-talks-senate-uvalde-00036846 |title=The Texas conservative turned Biden-approved 'rational Republican' on guns.|work=[[Politico]]|date=June 3, 2022 | access-date=June 4, 2022}}</ref>

In 2022, in the wake of the [[Robb Elementary School shooting]], Cornyn opposed further background check laws and those limiting the types of weapons that adults may purchase.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/06/john-cornyn-texas-gun-bipartisan-uvalde/ | title=John Cornyn says bipartisan gun legislation won't include weapons bans or expanding background checks | date=June 6, 2022 }}</ref> He later became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included a red flag provision, support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under 21, and penalties for straw purchases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/politics/senate-gun-safety-agreement/index.html|title=Bipartisan group of senators announces agreement on gun control|work=CNN|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|last3=Judd|first3=Donald|date=June 12, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

===LGBTQ rights===

While serving on the [[Supreme Court of Texas|Texas Supreme Court]] in the 1990s, Cornyn ruled with the majority to overturn a lower court ruling, ''State v. Morales'', that had found Texas's [[anti-sodomy law]]s to be unconstitutional.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Pierceson|first=Jason|title=Courts Liberalism And Rights: Gay Law And Politics In The United States and Canada|date=2005|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=978-1-59213-400-7|pages=81–82|jstor=j.ctt14bs7t1}}</ref> During oral arguments, he questioned the merits of the case, asking how the anti-sodomy laws harmed gay people if the laws were not enforced.<ref name=":0" /> According to Yale Law School professor [[William Eskridge]], Cornyn "engineered the ''Morales'' majority" that saved the sodomy law.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Eskridge|first=William N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2kvrxp4TUYsC&q=%22engineered+the+morales%22&pg=PT378|title=Dishonorable Passions: Sodomy Laws in America, 1861-2003|date=2008|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-1-4406-3110-8|language=en}}</ref> When running for the Senate in 2002, Cornyn defended the law.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carpenter|first=Dale|title=Flagrant conduct : the story of Lawrence v. Texas : how a bedroom arrest decriminalized gay Americans|date=2013|publisher=W.W. Norton|isbn=978-0-393-34512-4|pages=189–190|oclc=1021085990}}</ref> In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Texas's sodomy law in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'', ruling that anti-sodomy laws are unconstitutional.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Senate Begins Work on Anti-Gay Amendment|url=http://www.glapn.org/sodomylaws/usa/usnews095.htm|website=www.glapn.org|access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref>

After ''Lawrence v. Texas'', Cornyn condemned the "startling display of judicial activism that so threatens our fundamental institutions and our values".<ref name=":1" /> He said he worried that the Supreme Court would next overturn the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which prohibited recognition of same-sex marriage at the federal level,<ref>{{cite web|last=Curry |first=Tom |title=Senators wrangle over marriage |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4430732 |date=March 3, 2004 |website=[[MSNBC]]|language=en|access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> and he played a leading role in trying to introduce a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reinert |first=Patty |title=Pair proud they could get sodomy law thrown out|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Pair-proud-they-could-get-sodomy-law-thrown-out-1956147.php |date=April 25, 2004 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Black |first=Joe |title=GOP senators rush to ban gay nuptials|url=https://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/article/GOP-senators-rush-to-ban-gay-nuptials-1979524.php |date=March 4, 2004 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay|author-link=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|date=June 23, 2004 |title=Amendment's Backers Try Again on Same-Sex Marriages |language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/us/amendment-s-backers-try-again-on-same-sex-marriages.html |access-date=June 23, 2020 |quote=Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who is a chief backer of the amendment{{spaces}}...}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Davis |first=Julie Hirschfeld |date=July 15, 2004 |title=U.S. Senate Blocks Gay Union Ban |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2004-07-15-0407150225-story.html|access-date=June 23, 2020 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|language=en-US |quote=Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who was a lead sponsor of the measure{{spaces}}...}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Richard|date=2004|title=Senate Says No to Marriage Amendment|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-15-na-gaymarry15-story.html|access-date=June 23, 2020 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|quote=Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), one of the amendment’s leading supporters.}}</ref> Cornyn argued that recognition of same-sex marriage harmed people in heterosexual marriages.<ref>{{cite web|last=Curtius |first=Mary |title=Senate panel debates a 'threat' to marriage|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bal-te.marriage24mar24-story.html |work=The Baltimore Sun|date=March 24, 2004 |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> He claimed that children raised by gay couples are "at higher risk of a host of social ills", such as crime, drug use and dropping out of school,<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Liu|first1=Frederick|last2=Macedo|first2=Stephen|date=2005|title=The Federal Marriage Amendment and the Strange Evolution of the Conservative Case against Gay Marriage |url=http://www.journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1049096505056313|journal=PS: Political Science & Politics |language=en |volume=38 |issue=2 |pages=211–215 |doi=10.1017/S1049096505056313|s2cid=154971901|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Macedo|first=Stephen|title=Just Married|date=2015|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-16648-3|page=65|doi=10.23943/princeton/9780691166483.001.0001}}</ref> and that same-sex marriage would put "more and more children at risk through a radical social experiment".<ref name=":2" /> Cornyn opposed allowing gay couples to adopt children.<ref name=":1" />

In 2012, when President Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage, Cornyn criticized Obama and accused him of trying to "divide the country".<ref>{{cite web|last=Condon |first=Stephanie |title=Cornyn: Obama trying to "divide the country" with same-sex marriage support |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cornyn-obama-trying-to-divide-the-country-with-same-sex-marriage-support/ |website=[[CBS News]]|language=en-US |date=May 13, 2012 |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, when President Joe Biden reversed Trump's ban on transgender troops serving in the military, Cornyn accused Biden of dividing the country.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Helene|last2=Shear|first2=Michael D.|date=January 26, 2021|title=Biden Ends Military's Transgender Ban, Part of Broad Discrimination Fight|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/us/politics/biden-military-transgender.html|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=January 25, 2021|title=Texas senator's tweet about Biden reversing Trump's transgender military ban gets ratioed into oblivion|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/john-cornyn-dunked-twiter-biden-reverse-transgender-military-ban/|access-date=January 26, 2021|website=The Daily Dot|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, at the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]], Cornyn expressed his position that state governments ought to have the power to ban same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Citation |title=WATCH: Cornyn questions Jackson on marriage equality and freedom of religion | date=March 22, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4WataoyzDM |language=en |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> The Supreme Court held in [[Obergefell v. Hodges]] that the 14th amendment barred states from doing so.

===Victims' rights===

Cornyn opposes profiting from memorabilia tied to convicted murderers, and has made several unsuccessful attempts to pass laws against it.<ref name="texasmonthly">{{cite web|work=Texas Monthly|first=Dan|last=Solomon|date=September 24, 2013|url= http://www.texasmonthly.com/daily-post/john-cornyns-quest-end-murderabilia-0|title=John Cornyn's Quest To End 'Murderabilia'|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="militarytimes">{{cite web|work=[[Military Times]]|first=Joe|last=Gould|date=January 10, 2013|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20131001/NEWS/310010017/|title=Sale of Hasan letter prompts proposed ban on 'murderabilia'|access-date=April 6, 2015|archive-date=April 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413093317/http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20131001/NEWS/310010017/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="fox">{{cite web|work=Fox 7 Austin|date=September 20, 2013|url=http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/23489133/sen-cornyn-seeks-to-ban-murderabilia|title=Sen. Cornyn seeks to ban 'murderabilia'|access-date=April 6, 2015|archive-date=April 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412213434/http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/23489133/sen-cornyn-seeks-to-ban-murderabilia|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Election law===
In 2021, Cornyn helped Senate Republicans filibuster national election reform legislation. Cornyn described the bill, which exclusively received support from members of the Democratic Party, as a "politically-motivated federal takeover of our elections."<ref>{{cite web|last=Livingston|first=Abby|date=June 22, 2021|title=Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz join fellow Republicans to block Democrats' federal elections overhaul|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/22/ted-cruz-john-cornyn-senate-for-the-people-vote/|access-date=June 23, 2021|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref>

===Removal of Confederate statues===

Cornyn opposes the [[Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials|removal of statues relating to the Confederate States of America]]. He has said, "I don't think we can go back and erase our history by removing statues."<ref>{{cite news|last=Scherer|first=Jasper|date=June 12, 2020|title=Houston's Confederate statues to be removed, Turner announces|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-s-Confederate-statues-to-be-removed-15334070.php|access-date=June 12, 2020|work=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[2020 United States Senate election in Texas#Republican primary|2020 United States Senate Republican primary election in Texas]]<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/02/us/elections/results-texas-primary-elections.html |access-date=June 3, 2020 |date=June 3, 2020 |title=Live: Texas State Primary Election Results 2020}}</ref>
| class="wikitable" style="width: 10%"
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Cornyn (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,470,669
| percentage = 76.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dwayne Stovall
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 231,104
| percentage = 11.95%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Yancey
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 124,864
| percentage = 6.46%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Anthony Castro
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 86,916
| percentage = 4.49%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Virgil Bierschwale
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 20,494
| percentage = 1.06%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,934,047
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title= [[2020 United States Senate election in Texas]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = John Cornyn (incumbent)
 | votes      = 5,962,983
 | percentage = 53.51%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = [[MJ Hegar]]
 | votes      = 4,888,764
 | percentage = 43.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Kerry McKennon
 | votes      = 209,722
 | percentage = 1.88%
}}
{{Election box candidate minor party no change
 | party      = People Over Politics Party
 | candidate  = Cedric Jefferson
 | votes      = 
 | percentage = 
}}
{{Election box candidate minor party no change
 | party      = Human Rights Party
 | candidate  = James Brumley
 | votes      = 
 | percentage = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent
 | candidate  = Arjun Srinivasan
 | votes      = 
 | percentage = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent
 | candidate  = Tim Smith
 | votes      = 
 | percentage = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent
 | candidate  = Ricardo Turullols-Bonilla
 | votes      = 678
 | percentage = 0.01%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Independent
 | candidate  = Krisjiannis Vittato
 | votes      = 
 | percentage = 
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = 
 | percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
 | title      = [[2014 United States Senate election in Texas#Republican primary|2014 United States Senate Republican primary election in Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|url-status=dead|title=2014 Republican Party Primary Election|archive-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = John Cornyn (incumbent)
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 781,259
 | percentage = 59.43%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = [[Steve Stockman]]
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 251,577
 | percentage = 19.13%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = Dwayne Stovall
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 140,794
 | percentage = 10.71%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = Linda Vega
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 50,057
 | percentage = 3.80%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = Ken Cope
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 34,409
 | percentage = 2.61%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = Chris Mapp
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 23,535
 | percentage = 1.79%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = Reid Reasor
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 20,600
 | percentage = 1.56%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | candidate  = Curt Cleaver
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | votes      = 12,325
 | percentage = 0.94%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = 1,314,556
 | percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title=[[2014 United States Senate election in Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov04_175_state.htm |title=Office of the Secretary of State 2014 General Election Election Night Returns |website=Texas Secretary of State |access-date=January 7, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105175126/https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov04_175_state.htm |archive-date=November 5, 2014 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John Cornyn (incumbent)
  |votes      = 2,843,995
  |percentage = 61.60%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = David Alameel
  |votes      = 1,584,772
  |percentage = 34.32%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rebecca Paddock
  |votes      = 132,829
  |percentage = 2.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Emily Marie Sanchez
  |votes      = 54,075
  |percentage = 1.17%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Mohammed Tahiro
  |votes      = 1,158
  |percentage = 0.02%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 4,616,829
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
 | title      = [[2008 United States Senate election in Texas#Republican primary|2008 United States Senate Republican primary election in Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=294946|title= TX US Senate – R Primary|website=ourcampaigns.com|access-date=October 2, 2020}}
</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = John Cornyn (incumbent)
 | votes      = 997,216
 | percentage = 81.48%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = [[Larry Kilgore]]
 | votes      = 226,649
 | percentage = 18.52%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = 1,223,865
 | percentage = 100%
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title=[[2008 United States Senate election in Texas]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Lorraine C. |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 2008 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008election.pdf |access-date=June 8, 2020 |date=July 10, 2009}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John Cornyn (incumbent)
  |votes      = 4,337,469
  |percentage = 54.8%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Rick Noriega]]
  |votes      = 3,389,365
  |percentage = 42.8%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Yvonne Adams Schick
  |votes      = 185,241
  |percentage = 2.3%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 7,912,075
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
 | title      = [[2002 United States Senate election in Texas#Republican primary|2002 United States Senate Republican primary election in Texas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=148867|title= TX US Senate – R Primary|website=ourcampaigns.com|access-date=October 2, 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = John Cornyn
 | votes      = 478,825
 | percentage = 77%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Bruce Rusty Lang
 | votes      = 46,907
 | percentage = 8%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Douglas Deffenbaugh
 | votes      = 43,611
 | percentage = 7%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Dudley Mooney
 | votes      = 32,202
 | percentage = 5%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Lawrence Cranberg
 | votes      = 17,757
 | percentage = 3%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = 619,302
 | percentage = 100%
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title=[[2002 United States Senate election in Texas]]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John Cornyn
  |votes      = 2,480,991
  |percentage = 55%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Ron Kirk]]
  |votes      = 1,946,681
  |percentage = 43%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Scott Jameson
  |votes      = 35,538
  |percentage = 1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party       = Green Party (United States)
 |candidate   = Roy Williams
 |votes       = 25,051
 |percentage  = <1%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 4,488,261
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
 | title      = 1998 Texas Attorney General Republican primary election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = [[Barry Williamson]]
 | votes      = 208,345
 | percentage = 38%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = John Cornyn
 | votes      = 176,269
 | percentage = 32%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Tom Pauken
 | votes      = 162,180
 | percentage = 30%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = 546,794
 | percentage = 100%
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
 | title      = 1998 Texas Attorney General Republican primary runoff election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = John Cornyn
 | votes      = 135,130
 | percentage = 58%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = [[Barry Williamson]]
 | votes      = 98,218
 | percentage = 42%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = 233,348
 | percentage = 100%
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title= 1998 Texas Attorney General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John Cornyn
  |votes      = 2,002,794
  |percentage = 54%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Jim Mattox]]
  |votes      = 1,632,045
  |percentage = 44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Mike Angwin
  |votes      = 57,604
  |percentage = 2%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 3,691,443
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title= 1996 Texas Associate Justice Supreme Court election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John Cornyn (incumbent)
  |votes      = 2,686,518
  |percentage = 52%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Patrice Barron
  |votes      = 2,351,750
  |percentage = 46%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Thomas Stults
  |votes      = 129,203
  |percentage = 2%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 5,167,471
  |percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{End}}

==Personal life==
Cornyn and his wife, Sandy Hansen, have two daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yourtango.com/2018317710/who-is-john-cornyns-wife-sandy-cornyn-and-kids|title=Who Is John Cornyn's Wife? New Details On Sandy Cornyn|date=October 5, 2018|work=Your Tango|first=Samantha|last=Maffucci|access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> Cornyn receives pensions from three separate state and local governments in addition to his Senate salary.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldmacher|first1=Shane|title=Sen. Cornyn Reveals Not One, Not Two, but Three Public Pensions Atop His Salary|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/sen-cornyn-reveals-not-one-not-two-but-three-public-pensions-atop-his-salary-20130617|access-date=August 13, 2014|work=National Journal|date=June 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620142243/https://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/sen-cornyn-reveals-not-one-not-two-but-three-public-pensions-atop-his-salary-20130617/|archive-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref>

As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Cornyn's net worth was more than $1.8 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Cornyn - Net Worth - Personal Finances |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/John-Cornyn/net-worth?cid=N00024852 |website=OpenSecrets.org |access-date=October 15, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*[https://cornyn.senate.gov/ Senator John Cornyn] official U.S. Senate website
*[https://www.johncornyn.com/ John Cornyn for Senate]
*{{CongLinks |congbio=c001056 |votesmart=15375 |fec=S2TX00106 |congress=john-cornyn/1692 }}
*{{C-SPAN|93131}}
*[http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/john-cornyn/ Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Texas Tribune]]''
*{{cite web|title=Office of the Secretary of State |url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |access-date=September 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=January 9, 2014}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cornyn, John III}}
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