Cornyn announces staff with a jab at Paxton

Texas Senator John Cornyn has announced his campaign team for the 2026 election, warning his major opponent in the Republican primary, “It’s going to be a long, miserable 10 months for Ken Paxton.” The press release says, “We will accurately convey my record in the U.S. Senate and make sure that Texans understand the character and record of my opponents.”
The team member most familiar to Austin voters is Matt Mackowiak, who is the co-chair of Save Austin Now.  He will serve as communications director. Mackowiak stepped down from his local Republican Party job in February. Cornyn named Andy Hemming, who served as senior advisor for Governor Greg Abbott’s 2022 re-election campaign, will be campaign manager. He has considerable experience in Republican politics, having worked on the 2016 Trump campaign, as well as the campaign of Governor Rick Perry, among others.