John Cornyn Warns GOP Forgot 4 ‘Basic’ Rules After Midterm Bloodbath - Newsweek

Outgoing Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas warned that the writing was on the wall for the party ahead of the midterm elections, saying the results were foreseeable as the GOP "forgot four basic rules of coalition politics."

Cornyn argued in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that a successful Republican coalition adds, not subtracts, and that candidates should be likable, keep campaign promises, and that character and integrity still matter.

Tuesday night resulted in sweeping losses for the Republican Party as they lost control of both the House and the Senate. President Donald Trump attempted to distance himself from the blue wave, saying he wasn't on the ballot, but if he was, "we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!"

In the Lone Star State, Republicans were handed a costly defeat, as Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton lost to Democrat James Talarico in the U.S. Senate race. Incumbent Governor Greg Abbott lost his race for Texas governor to Democrat Gina Hinojosa.

Midterm elections are commonly viewed as a test of the political environment facing the party in power, and the president's party has historically lost seats during them. President Donald Trump won Texas and every swing state in the 2024 presidential election versus then Vice President Kamala Harris.

As Republicans lick their wounds following the sweeping Democratic wins, Cornyn, who was not backed by Trump in his re-election campaign, laid out his thoughts.

Cornyn noted that part of the successes of the 2024 elections for Republicans was the ability to win over men, Hispanics and Black voters. "Lifelong conservatives and first-time Republican voters all embraced our message of lower prices, border security, cultural sanity and American strength. This year, losing candidates like Ken Paxton and Mike Collins shrank the tent, obsessing over 'RINOs' and political theater," Cornyn argued.

He said when nominees show contempt for voters and request a smaller party, voters fall in line. He pointed to failed Texas Railroad Commission candidate Bo French's remarks toward students of Asian descent at a University of Texas' football game as "blatant bigotry" that "poisoned the well."

Cornyn's second point is that candidates need to be likable. He said the days of articulate and appealing candidates like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who challenged "establishment" candidates, are over, and fringe challengers who engage in performative politics are now on the political scene. "A strange reverse personality test has taken root. If a candidate talks like an affable, reasonable person, he must be a sellout. If he makes bizarre comments or has past scandals, that’s considered authenticity," he said in part.

Thirdly, Cornyn said campaign promises need to be met. He pointed to former President Joe Biden's immigration, economic and social policies, which likely set the stage for Trump's win, saying, voters ultimately "trusted Mr. Trump and the Republicans over Kamala Harris and the Democrats to protect their pocketbooks." Cornyn questioned what kitchen-table voters have received during Trump's second term, saying that "in key areas, Mr. Trump repeated Mr. Biden’s mistake and misread his mandate."

Cornyn pointed to Trump's tariff policy, immigration enforcement and ongoing war with Iran as areas of concern while highlighting some policy wins like the Working Families Tax Cuts, deregulation and "sensible" energy policies.

Lastly, Cornyn said that integrity and character matter, while pointing to his home state as an example.

"When Republicans force voters to choose between policy and personal character, it is unfair to them and suicidal for us. Here in Texas, traditional conservatives and independents were asked to swallow an almost comical list of personal scandals and improprieties," he said in part. The senator added that the party needs to police its own or voters will continue to do it for them.

Cornyn concluded the op-ed saying he is optimistic about the future, and the American people have handed the party a playbook to follow. A big-tent party that is competent and focused on concerns of Americans.

Renee Cross, senior executive director and professor of practice at the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs, told Newsweek on Wednesday, "There are a number of factors that affected the races in Texas. First, the disapproval with the federal government, particularly with President Trump, was a major aspect contributing to the growing dissatisfaction with Republicans. President Trump's actions regarding the war in Iran, the enactment of tariffs (which has a major effect on a state like Texas), the deportation efforts (that were supposed to target criminals yet has been very broadly applied), violence surrounding ICE's over-reach and the cost of everything, but especially gas, diesel and groceries, has skyrocketed."

Cross later added, specifically about the state's Senate race, "The top of the ticket election — Democrat James Talarico vs Republican Ken Paxton — was another major part of the Democratic gains in Texas. Paxton has been at the center of several scandals (both personal and professionally) to the point that even some Republicans did not support him. He is a weak campaigner and fundraiser. Recent large donations by Elon Musk and Republican PACs erased his financial disadvantage, but the money may have come a bit too late. Meanwhile, James Talarico is a charismatic campaigner and successful fundraiser, without the baggage Paxton has."

Cross also added that Latinos have become disenchanted with Trump due to immigration policies, while changing demographics and policies backed by Abbott, like data centers that he walked back, were unfavorable for Republicans this cycle.

Trump conceded partially that the landslide Democratic wins could be due to the war in Iran, although he said he would still do it again.

Vice President JD Vance similarly laid out four reasons why he thought the party faced devastating losses after speaking with a pollster, which included ending the war with Iran, focusing on the cost of living and inflation, putting America first and changing the U.S. relationship with Israel.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the results from Tuesday's elections the "worst-case scenario," and as "close to an extinction-level event for Republicans, in many parts of the country, as we have seen probably in the last hundred years."

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, the now lone GOP leader in statewide office, said on his podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz that the results were not a blue wave; they were a "blue tsunami."

He added that the election wins for Democrats were a "Watergate-level repudiation." He continued that, "Nowhere are the consequences of this election greater than Texas."

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Anna Commander, Gray R. Thomas