Reagan, Ronald
1981–1989
Reagan's actual record: tax cuts, free trade, strong defense, anti-Soviet (now anti-PRC/Russia authoritarianism), federalism, signed the 1986 IRCA amnesty, civility, the 11th Commandment ('Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican'). Cornyn matches Reagan substantially better than Paxton on essentially every dimension: tax cuts, free trade (USMCA, anti-broadest-tariffs), strong defense, anti-Russia/anti-China hawkishness, federalism, the IRCA-tradition Gang-of-Eight engagement, civility, and — most pointedly — the 11th Commandment, which Cornyn has honored under sustained Paxton attack rather than escalating into personal warfare. Paxton matches Reagan on taxes, deregulation, guns, and energy but flunks the 11th Commandment by spending his entire campaign attacking a sitting Republican senator, abandons free trade for Trump tariffs, and opposes Ukraine aid (Reagan was the original anti-Russian-imperialism president).
Sources
- Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, official campaign issues page, accessed May 2026. (full list)
- Sen. John Cornyn, official Senate website and 2026 re-election campaign issues page, accessed May 2026 (cornyn.senate.gov; johncornyn.com). (full list)
- Cornyn vote on S. 744, Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, June 27, 2013; RESULTS Act / Cornyn-Heller substitute amendment; 'border surge' Cornyn-Hoeven amendment incorporated into the bill. (full list)
- Cornyn votes on USMCA (January 2020); Senate Finance Committee record on free-trade agreements; Cornyn statements on Trump-era tariffs (2018-2026) including measured opposition to broad agricultural tariffs harming Texas exporters. (full list)