“Typical for Higher Office”: Hunt Defends Attendance Record by Citing Vance and Scott

HOUSTON — Representative Wesley Hunt is vigorously defending his spotty voting record in the House, framing his frequent absences not as a dereliction of duty, but as a necessary byproduct of campaigning for the U.S. Senate. Facing intense criticism from his primary opponent, Senator John Cornyn, Hunt invoked the examples of Vice President JD Vance and Senator Tim Scott to justify his time away from Washington.

In a recent interview with Stephen A. Smith, Hunt argued that high-profile politicians often miss votes when seeking higher office or serving on the campaign trail.

Hunt’s Defense: “It’s Not About the Votes You Missed”

Hunt, who has missed a significant number of votes in 2026 to focus on his campaign to unseat Cornyn, dismissed the scrutiny as political maneuvering.

• Campaign Demands: Hunt asserted that his absences are typical for lawmakers campaigning statewide, noting that he has been “crisscrossing Texas nonstop.”
• Citing GOP Leaders: Hunt pointed out that Vance and Scott both missed multiple votes ahead of the 2024 election cycle, arguing that his own record is consistent with those seeking higher office.
• Focus on Impact: “It’s not about the votes that you missed, it’s about the votes that you take,” Hunt said, criticizing Cornyn for making “too many poor votes.”

Cornyn’s Counterattack: “He Needs to Do His Job”

Senator Cornyn has seized on Hunt’s voting record, launching a dedicated website—whereswesleyhunt.com—to track his absences. Cornyn argues that Hunt is prioritizing his political ambitions over his responsibilities to his constituents.

“It’s shameful. I can’t believe he has the temerity to say that showing up for work doesn’t matter. You can’t claim to be pro-Trump and not show up for work.” — Sen. John Cornyn, Jan 2026

Voting Record Scrutiny

Data from the House floor highlights the stark difference in attendance between the two candidates.

Hunt’s career mark for missed votes is approximately 20%, far higher than the median of 2% for current representatives. Despite this, Hunt claims that voters on the campaign trail have not raised the issue of his attendance with him directly.