By Charlie McCarthy | Thursday, 06 November 2025 08:31 AM EST
Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, facing a GOP primary challenge, on Wednesday expressed openness to altering the filibuster rule to allow spending bills to pass without a 60-vote threshold. His remarks, reported by The Texas Tribune, marked a notable departure from his long-standing defense of the procedural tool as a Senate tradition.
Cornyn attributed the shift to the ongoing government shutdown, which he blamed on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for enabling a “willful minority” to block funding. “We can’t tolerate that,” Cornyn stated, emphasizing the need for changes to address the stalemate. However, he stopped short of fully endorsing President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate the filibuster entirely, unlike primary rivals Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt, who advocated its complete abolition.
Paxton accused Democrats of seeking to “pack the courts” and erode freedoms if given the chance, while Hunt argued ending the filibuster would let Republicans enact Trump’s policies without Democratic concessions. Trump, though yet to endorse Cornyn’s race, pressured Senate Republicans to act, calling for an end to the filibuster during a meeting with senators.
Cornyn criticized Democrats for “prioritizing politics over governance” and risking federal worker paychecks, airport operations, and food stamp funding. Despite growing conservative pressure, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., noted Republicans lack sufficient votes to modify or remove the filibuster.
Cornyn’s cautious approach reflects both Trump’s influence and his need to balance a restive base in Texas. Once a staunch defender of Senate norms, he now argues that Democrats’ use of the filibuster “changes the conversation,” warning that continued gridlock could force reforms to meet public expectations.
