Wesley Hunt

Wesley Hunt
Born	Wesley Parish Hunt 13 11, 1981
Birthplace	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Education	United States Military Academy (BS) Cornell University (MBA, MPA, MA)
Children	3
Website	[[hunt.house.gov hunt.house.gov] Official site]

Wesley Parish Hunt (born November 13, 1981) is an American politician and former United States Army officer serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 38th congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Hunt represents a district in the Houston metropolitan area that was newly created following the 2020 census. Before entering politics, Hunt served as an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, including a combat deployment to Iraq, reaching the rank of captain before leaving the military in 2012. He first ran for Congress in 2020 in Texas's 7th congressional district, losing to incumbent Lizzie Fletcher, before winning the newly drawn 38th district in 2022. A graduate of West Point and Cornell University, Hunt has drawn attention as one of a cohort of military veterans and West Point graduates elected to Congress in the early 2020s. In October 2025, he announced his candidacy for the 2026 United States Senate election in Texas, seeking to succeed retiring Senator John Cornyn.

Early Life

Wesley Parish Hunt was born on November 13, 1981, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in the Houston area, where he was raised in a family with deep roots in the community. Hunt is African American and has spoken publicly about his upbringing and family background during his political campaigns.

Hunt's path toward military service and public life began during his formative years in Houston. He attended local schools before pursuing admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point, one of the nation's premier military academies. His decision to attend West Point set the trajectory for a career that would span military service, the private sector, and ultimately politics.

Education

Hunt attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, graduating in 2004. His time at West Point prepared him for a career as a commissioned officer in the United States Army, and he entered active duty upon graduation.

After completing his military service, Hunt pursued graduate education at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. At Cornell, he earned three advanced degrees: a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Public Administration (MPA), and a Master of Arts (MA). This extensive graduate education provided Hunt with a foundation in business, public policy, and management that he would later apply in both the private sector and in his political career. Hunt was among a notable cohort of West Point graduates who went on to run for and win seats in Congress during the 2022 midterm elections.

Career

Military Service

Upon graduating from West Point in 2004, Hunt was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and assigned to the Army Aviation Branch. He trained as an AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot, one of the Army's primary attack helicopter platforms. Hunt served on active duty from 2004 to 2012, reaching the rank of captain.

During his military career, Hunt deployed to Iraq as part of the Iraq War, flying combat missions in the Apache helicopter. His service in Iraq placed him in direct combat operations, an experience that he would later cite frequently during his political campaigns as formative to his worldview and approach to public service. Hunt's military service earned him recognition and provided him with leadership experience that he carried into his post-military career.

Hunt left the Army in 2012 after eight years of active-duty service. Following his military career, he transitioned to the private sector and pursued his graduate studies at Cornell University.

Private Sector

After completing his military service and graduate education at Cornell, Hunt entered the private sector. He worked in business in the Houston area before turning his attention to politics. His business background, combined with his military service and graduate degrees, formed the basis of his profile as a candidate when he launched his first congressional campaign.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Hunt first ran for Congress in 2020, seeking to represent Texas's 7th congressional district, which encompassed portions of western Houston and Harris County. The district had been held by Republicans for decades before Democratic incumbent Lizzie Fletcher won the seat in 2018 as part of a broader Democratic wave in suburban districts nationwide.

Hunt ran as a Republican challenger, emphasizing his military service, conservative policy positions, and Houston roots. The race attracted national attention as one of the competitive House contests of the 2020 cycle. Despite a competitive campaign, Hunt lost to Fletcher, who won reelection to the seat.

The defeat did not end Hunt's political ambitions. He remained active in Republican politics in the Houston area and began planning his next campaign almost immediately after the 2020 results were finalized.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following the 2020 United States census, Texas gained two additional congressional seats due to population growth, and the state legislature drew new district maps during the redistricting process. One of the newly created districts was Texas's 38th congressional district, which encompassed suburban and exurban areas in the Houston metropolitan region and was drawn as a safely Republican seat.

Hunt announced his candidacy for the new 38th district in September 2021, well before the final district lines were established. The Texas Tribune reported on his early entry into the race, noting that he was already running in the newly drawn Houston district after his 2020 loss in the 7th district.

In the March 2022 Republican primary, Hunt won the GOP nomination decisively, defeating his primary opponents in a commanding fashion. Houston Public Media reported that Hunt won the nomination in "Houston's newest congressional district," reflecting the district's creation during redistricting.

In the November 2022 general election, Hunt won the seat comfortably, as the district's Republican-leaning composition made it favorable territory for the GOP nominee. ABC13 in Houston projected Hunt as the winner of the District 38 race on election night. He became the first representative of the newly created district when he took office on January 3, 2023.

Tenure in Congress

Hunt took office as a freshman member of the 118th United States Congress on January 3, 2023, representing Texas's 38th congressional district. As a newly elected member, he joined the Republican caucus in the House and began serving on committees relevant to his district's interests.

During his time in Congress, Hunt has been an active voice on issues including energy policy, infrastructure, and federal law enforcement. In January 2026, Hunt was involved in a notable incident when House leaders arranged a police escort to rush him to the Capitol to cast a vote, an episode reported by The New York Times in which Hunt defended his attendance record while celebrating successfully casting the vote.

In January 2026, Hunt made public remarks regarding federal law enforcement, stating that if Americans obey orders from federal officers, "you get to keep your life." The comments, made hours after a reported incident involving ICE agents, drew significant media attention.

Hunt has also engaged with industry groups during his tenure. In February 2026, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) hosted a "Coffee with the Congressman" event featuring Hunt at its annual conference, where he was scheduled to share insights on energy, infrastructure, and federal priorities.

His campaign finance activities have been tracked by the Federal Election Commission, where he is listed as a candidate for Texas's 7th district (from his 2020 run) and subsequently for the 38th district.

2026 United States Senate Campaign

In October 2025, Hunt announced that he would run in the 2026 United States Senate election in Texas, seeking to succeed Senator John Cornyn, who announced his retirement from the Senate. Hunt entered a competitive Republican primary field and positioned himself as a candidate representing a new generation of conservative leadership.

In a February 2026 interview, Hunt stated that "it's time for the next generation of American first patriots to lead," framing his candidacy around generational change within the Republican Party and alignment with an "America First" policy agenda.

The primary campaign became contentious. In February 2026, Hunt filed a police report with the Harris County Constable's Office against a campaign staffer for Senator Cornyn, alleging that the staffer had released personal information about Hunt's family on social media — an act commonly referred to as "doxxing." Fox News reported that Hunt filed the report against Cornyn campaign staffer Matt Mackowiak. The Hill also reported on the incident, noting that Hunt said he "filed criminal charges" in connection with the release of his family's personal information.

The Texas Senate Republican primary attracted national attention, in part because of the question of whether President Donald Trump would issue an endorsement in the race. Roll Call reported in late February 2026 that Trump was "resisting appeals from national Republicans to endorse" Cornyn in the primary, a dynamic that created uncertainty in the contest and was seen as potentially beneficial to candidates like Hunt who had aligned themselves with Trump's policy agenda.

The San Antonio Express-News also published commentary related to the race, with a reader letter discussing whether Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Hunt shared "traditional Republican values," reflecting the broader public debate about the direction of the Texas Republican Party.

Personal Life

Hunt and his wife reside in the Houston area. The couple has three children. In late 2022, shortly before Hunt was to be sworn in as a member of Congress, his son was born prematurely. The Hill reported that Hunt, then an incoming Texas Republican representative, was returning to Texas after his son's premature birth, an event that drew public attention and well-wishes from colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Hunt's family life has been a component of his public profile, with his campaign website featuring information about his wife and children. During the 2026 Senate campaign, the alleged release of his family's personal information by a rival campaign staffer became a significant point of contention, leading Hunt to file a police report to protect his family's privacy and safety.

Recognition

Hunt has been recognized within Republican political circles as a notable figure among a new generation of military veterans entering politics. Politico included him in a 2022 report on the cohort of West Point graduates who won seats in Congress during the midterm elections, highlighting the academy's growing representation in the legislative branch.

Hunt was endorsed by the Main Street Republican PAC during his congressional campaigns, reflecting support from the business-oriented wing of the Republican Party.

His appearances on C-SPAN have been documented as part of the network's coverage of congressional proceedings and member activities.