U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) will be running for re-election in 2020 against a field of yet-to-be-determined opponents, but is already warning Republicans of what he sees as Democratic voter enthusiasm ahead of next year.
“We are, I think, no longer the reliably red state we have been,” Cornyn told the Texas Tribune’s Abby Livingston. “We are at risk of turning purple. And if we don’t do our job, then we could turn blue in the coming years."
Cornyn’s comments come as Republican Senator Ted Cruz claimed victory over Democrat Beto O’Rourke and Libertarian Neal Dikeman in last year’s close Senate race. In that contest, Cruz won 51 percent to O’Rourke’s 48 percent. In contrast, the junior U.S. Senator won 57 percent to Democrat Paul Sadler’s 41 percent in 2012.
Cornyn last appeared on the ballot in 2014, winning 62 percent of the vote against Democrat David Alameel.
