Senator John Cornyn thought he could play both sides of the fence.
He’s been trying to have it both ways with Trump supporters and Washington, D.C. establishment figures.
But Democrat Representative Jasmine Crockett picked the perfect moment to praise John Cornyn and it exposed his biggest weakness.
Crockett’s strategic praise puts Cornyn in an impossible position
Texas Democrat Representative Jasmine Crockett delivered what might be the most politically damaging compliment a Republican could receive in 2025.
During a recent MSNBC interview about Texas Democrats fleeing the state over redistricting, Crockett made a stunning admission about Senator John Cornyn that could devastate his relationship with the MAGA base he desperately needs.
"I’m about to tell all of MSNBC a secret," Crockett said during the interview. "I actually don’t hate Senator Cornyn at all. And right now, what we have is a senator who actually is a real Republican who’s doing everything that he can to make it seem like he’s a MAGA Republican so that he can get through his primary."¹
The timing of Crockett’s comments wasn’t accidental.
Cornyn is facing mounting pressure from conservatives who question his America First credentials, and he’s locked in a fierce primary battle with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the 2026 Senate race.
By praising Cornyn’s "bipartisan" approach while simultaneously suggesting he’s being deceptive about his conservative credentials, Crockett created a no-win situation for the embattled Senator.
The kiss of death from a radical Democrat
For any Republican trying to maintain credibility with Trump supporters, praise from Jasmine Crockett is political poison.
Crockett has been one of the most vocal critics of conservative policies in Congress, consistently pushing the radical Left’s agenda on everything from defunding police to expanding government control.
Her seal of approval is exactly what Cornyn doesn’t need as he tries to convince Texas Republicans that he’s actually fighting for their values.
The Democrat Representative went even further in her strategic compliment, referencing Cornyn’s past service and moderate record.
"Senator Cornyn, this is not him," she said, referencing his past service on the Texas Supreme Court and a more moderate record compared to Senator Ted Cruz. "This is somebody who typically works in a very bipartisan way."²
If Cornyn embraces the praise, he looks like he’s in league with radical Democrats.
If he rejects it, he appears to be flip-flopping on his own record of bipartisan cooperation.
Crockett reveals Democrat strategy to damage Republicans
Crockett’s comments expose the sophisticated political calculation behind her public praise.
She didn’t stop at just complimenting Cornyn – she explained exactly why Democrats see him as different from true MAGA Republicans.
"This is somebody who is literally doing everything he can to hopefully get some of that MAGA base that is riled up to vote for our corrupt attorney general," Crockett added, referring to Ken Paxton.³
The Democrat Representative also revealed how she thinks Cornyn is trying to manipulate Republican voters.
"Senator Cornyn knows that the FBI can’t get involved and ain’t gon’ get involved as it relates to some little civil situation that was signed off on by the speaker of the Texas House," she said about Cornyn’s request for FBI help with the fleeing Democrats. "But the MAGA base won’t know that."⁴
This strategic revelation shows Democrats understand exactly how to damage Republicans in primaries – by making them look like they’re secretly allied with the other side while questioning their authenticity.
Cornyn’s establishment record comes back to haunt him
Crockett’s comments highlight the fundamental problem with Cornyn’s political positioning.
The Senator has spent years cultivating relationships with Democrat colleagues while trying to maintain his standing with increasingly conservative Texas voters.
His voting record shows a pattern of compromise that has frustrated America First conservatives.
Look at Cornyn’s voting record over the past few years. He voted for spending packages that helped fuel inflation.
When mass shootings dominated headlines, Cornyn didn’t just vote for gun control – he wrote it. The Safer Communities Act represents the biggest federal gun control legislation since Bill Clinton’s 1994 so-called Assault Weapons Ban. Cornyn authored and championed the bill, working hand-in-hand with Democrats to get it passed. Time and again, he chose the Washington, D.C. consensus over what Texas voters actually wanted.
Ken Paxton took a different path entirely. As Attorney General, he’s made a career out of suing the federal government when it steps out of line. Every time Biden’s administration tried something unconstitutional, Paxton was there with a lawsuit.
Where Cornyn sees an opportunity to negotiate, Paxton sees a fight worth having.
Texas Republicans are increasingly demanding elected officials who fight rather than negotiate away their values.
The political calculation behind Crockett’s timing
Crockett’s decision to praise Cornyn during the redistricting controversy reveals sophisticated political strategy from the radical Left.
The comments came as Texas Democrats fled the state to break quorum and prevent a vote on new congressional maps that could help Republicans gain five House seats in the 2026 midterms.
Cornyn had sent a letter to the FBI requesting help in arresting the fleeing Democrats – a move that should have appealed to his conservative base.
But Crockett used this moment to undermine Cornyn by suggesting his tough talk was just an act for the "MAGA base" while revealing that she actually doesn’t mind working with him.
Democrats understand that the best way to damage a Republican in a primary is to make them look like they’re secretly allied with the other side.
By publicly stating that Cornyn works well with Democrats while questioning his MAGA authenticity, Crockett planted a seed of doubt that could grow into a major problem for the Senator.
Paxton positioned as the authentic conservative alternative
The numbers tell the story. Paxton has filed dozens of lawsuits against federal overreach during the Biden years. Border security, election integrity, religious freedom – you name the conservative priority, and Paxton has fought for it in court.
The results speak for themselves. While Cornyn was shaking hands across the aisle, Paxton was racking up victories against the Biden administration in federal court.
Texas Republicans notice the difference. They want leaders who fight first and compromise never. Paxton delivers on that promise consistently.
His battles aren’t just legal maneuvers – they’re statements about what Texas values actually mean. When the federal government tries to override state authority, Paxton pushes back. When activist groups attack traditional values, he defends them.
This approach has turned Paxton into something of a folk hero among conservatives nationwide. They see him as someone who actually does what he promises during campaign season.
The broader implications for Republican politics
Crockett’s strategic praise of Cornyn represents a broader challenge facing establishment Republicans across the country.
Here’s what’s happening across Republican politics. The model that worked for decades – talk conservative, govern moderate – doesn’t cut it anymore.
Voters figured out the game. They’re done with politicians who sound tough during election season but fold the moment they get to Washington, D.C.
Paxton represents something different. He’s proven that you can take principled stands and actually win. His legal victories show that fighting works better than compromising.
This creates a problem for longtime incumbents like Cornyn. They built entire careers on the old model of bipartisan deal-making.
But Republican voters moved on. They want results, not handshake agreements with Democrats. They want fighters, not negotiators.
The transformation is already happening. Candidates who refuse to compromise are winning primaries against establishment Republicans.
Working with radical Democrats used to be considered smart politics. Now it looks like betrayal to the people who voted for you. to fight, not to fold.
Cornyn’s response to Crockett’s comments will likely determine whether he can salvage his relationship with the MAGA base or if her strategic praise becomes the beginning of the end of his political career.
For Texas Republicans, the choice between a Senator who earns praise from radical Democrats and an Attorney General who earns their lawsuits seems increasingly clear.
¹ Jasmine Crockett, MSNBC Interview, "Crockett Praises Senator Cornyn as ‘Bipartisan’ Republican," Texas Politics, August 7, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ "’MAGA base won’t know!’ Jasmine Crockett exposes GOP senator’s ploy to trick Republicans," Raw Story, August 6, 2025.
⁴ Jasmine Crockett, MSNBC Interview, Texas Politics, August 7, 2025.
