McCain, John
1936–2018
McCain's defining commitments — alliance-keeping (NATO, Ukraine), opposition to torture, the 2017 ACA-repeal 'no' vote, McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, and McCain-Kennedy comprehensive immigration reform — read in 2026 as institutional-Republican restraint and refusal to follow party on healthcare or alliances. Abbott runs against McCain on Ukraine ('Joe Biden needs to stop giving money to foreign countries like Ukraine'), on ACA (he sued repeatedly as AG before becoming governor), and on the Yass-funded primary-discipline campaign that violates the McCain-Feingold spirit. Hinojosa's no-corporate-PAC posture is the cleanest McCain-Feingold echo; her Medicaid-expansion push aligns with the McCain 'thumbs-down' frame on ACA repeal. Hinojosa is the substantially closer fit despite party label difference — McCain's framework is institutional, not partisan.
Sources
- Gov. Greg Abbott, X (formerly Twitter), 'Joe Biden needs to stop giving money to foreign countries like Ukraine.' 2025. (full list)
- Governing, 'Texas governor still won't expand Medicaid,' archived analysis of Abbott's repeated rejection of Medicaid expansion. (full list)
- Patrick Svitek, 'Greg Abbott and Tim Dunn back primary challenges to House Republicans who blocked vouchers,' Texas Tribune, Feb. 27, 2024. (full list)
- Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor, official campaign priorities page, accessed May 2026. (full list)
- John McCain, July 28, 2017 ACA repeal 'no' vote; 2008 nomination acceptance; Senate Armed Services chairmanship. (full list)