MAGA lawmaker accused of lying on sworn statement as GOP Senate primary gets ugly

The campaign of Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is accusing one of his primary rivals, Wesley Hunt, of committing voter fraud in 2016 by lying to election officials so he could take a provisional ballot he was ineligible for.

Hunt, along with Attorney General Ken Paxton, is locked in a close contest with Cornyn for the nomination. Most polls show Paxton at least slightly ahead of Cornyn, and Hunt placing third, with both candidates keen to reduce Hunt's numbers in the hope his voters will go to them.

The allegation was laid out on X Friday by Matt Mackowiak, a longtime Austin-based Republican strategist now running communications for Cornyn's campaign.

"In a bombshell development today in the U.S. Senate primary in Texas, little known 2nd term Congressman Wesley Hunt attempted to show he voted in the 2016 general election, but his provisional ballot was not counted because he was not a registered voter," wrote Mackowiak. "Far more significant is the revelation that he claimed to the Election Judge and in a sworn affidavit that he was discharged in Oct. 2016 (one month before), but his official congressional biography, his campaign biography, and his military discharge document all show he was discharged four years earlier in 2012."

According to the allegation, Hunt falsely told an elections judge that he had only just been discharged, as an explanation for why his voter registration wasn't in the system, so that he could take a provisional ballot.

“Wesley Hunt has now unwittingly proved he committed voter fraud by lying in a sworn statement to an Election Judge both verbally and on a sworn document,” Mackowiak continued. “His military discharge form, and his official biography prove he was discharged in 2012, not in 2016 as he claimed in an attempt to illegally vote. Corrupt Ken Paxton should investigate Wesley Hunt for voter fraud and Wesley should admit he lied in a sworn document.”

The Senate primary has grown more and more fiery in recent months. Cornyn has also launched attacks on Paxton over accusations of marital infidelity, as well as alleged illegal use of his public office to boost his campaign.