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 is a West Point graduate and decorated Iraq War veteran who reached the rank of captain before transitioning to a career in business and politics. He first sought elected office in 2020, running for Texas's 7th congressional district, and after an unsuccessful bid that year, won election to the newly created 38th district in 2022. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Hunt became one of several West Point graduates elected to Congress during the 2022 midterm elections. In October 2025, Hunt announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2026 Texas Senate election, positioning himself as a representative of a new generation of Republican leadership.

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 a tradition of military and public service. Hunt has described his upbringing as rooted in conservative values and a sense of duty to country, themes that would later become central to both his military career and political identity.

Growing up in Houston, Hunt developed an early interest in service and leadership. His path toward the military began during his formative years in Texas, ultimately leading him to pursue an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Education

Hunt attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His time at the academy prepared him for a career as a military officer and instilled the leadership principles that would carry through both his military service and later political career.

After completing his military service, Hunt pursued graduate education at Cornell University, where he earned three advanced degrees: a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Public Administration (MPA), and a Master of Arts (MA). The combination of his West Point undergraduate education and his graduate studies at Cornell provided Hunt with credentials in both military leadership and business management, which he would later draw upon in his transition to the private sector and public life.

Career

Military Service

Hunt was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army upon graduating from West Point and served on active duty from 2004 to 2012. He was assigned to the United States Army Aviation Branch, where he trained and served as a helicopter pilot. During his eight years of military service, Hunt deployed to Iraq as part of the Iraq War, gaining combat experience in one of the most significant American military operations of the early 21st century.

Hunt achieved the rank of captain during his time in the Army. His military service became a defining aspect of his personal narrative and later political campaigns, in which he emphasized his combat experience, leadership training, and commitment to national security. Hunt left active duty in 2012 and transitioned to civilian life, eventually entering the business sector before turning to politics.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Hunt first entered electoral politics in 2020, when he ran as the Republican candidate for Texas's 7th congressional district, a Houston-area seat that had been held by Democrats since 2018. The district, once a longtime Republican stronghold, had flipped to Democratic control when Lizzie Fletcher won the seat in the 2018 midterm elections.

Hunt campaigned as a conservative Republican, emphasizing his military background, West Point education, and Houston roots. Despite his efforts, Fletcher won reelection, and Hunt fell short in his first bid for Congress. The 2020 race, however, raised Hunt's profile within Texas Republican circles and positioned him for a future run.

His campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission documented his fundraising and expenditure activities during the 2020 cycle.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following the 2020 census, Texas gained two additional congressional seats through redistricting, and the newly created 38th congressional district was drawn in the Houston metropolitan area. The district was considered heavily favorable to Republicans. Hunt announced his candidacy for the new seat, entering the Republican primary as a well-known candidate with established name recognition from his 2020 race.

In the March 2022 Republican primary, Hunt won the nomination decisively, defeating his opponents in a commanding fashion. The primary results reflected his strong support among Republican voters in the Houston area and confirmed his status as the party's preferred candidate for the new district.

In the November 2022 general election, Hunt won the seat comfortably, reflecting the district's Republican-leaning composition. He became one of several West Point graduates elected to Congress in the 2022 midterm cycle, a trend noted by national political observers.

U.S. House of Representatives

Hunt took office on January 3, 2023, as the first representative of Texas's 38th congressional district, a seat that was newly established following redistricting. As a freshman member of the Republican majority in the 118th United States Congress, Hunt aligned himself with conservative positions on issues including border security, energy policy, and national defense.

During his tenure, Hunt became an outspoken voice on law enforcement and immigration issues. In January 2026, following a shooting incident involving ICE officers in Minnesota, Hunt stated that if Americans obey orders from federal officers, "you get to keep your life," a comment that generated significant media coverage and debate.

In January 2026, Hunt was also the subject of media attention when House leaders arranged a police escort to rush him to the Capitol to cast a vote, avoiding what would have been a procedural setback for the Republican majority. Hunt subsequently celebrated casting the vote, while defending his absence from the chamber leading up to the incident.

Hunt has also engaged with industry groups during his time in Congress. In February 2026, he was scheduled to appear at the AMPP (Association for Materials Protection and Performance) Annual Conference and Expo, where he was set to discuss federal priorities related to energy and infrastructure policy.

Hunt received support from the Main Street Republican PAC during his congressional tenure, reflecting his position within the Republican caucus.

2026 Texas Senate Campaign

In October 2025, Hunt announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in the 2026 Texas Senate election, seeking the seat held by longtime Republican Senator John Cornyn. Hunt framed his candidacy around generational change within the Republican Party, stating that it was "time for the next generation of American first patriots to lead."

The Republican primary race for the Texas Senate seat became competitive, with Hunt challenging Cornyn and other candidates. As of February 2026, the race attracted national attention in part due to President Donald Trump's decision not to endorse Cornyn, despite appeals from national Republicans. The lack of a presidential endorsement was described by political observers as a significant factor in the dynamics of the primary contest.

The campaign became contentious in its final weeks. In February 2026, Hunt filed a police report with the Harris County Constable's Office against a senior staffer on Senator Cornyn's campaign, Matt Mackowiak, alleging that his family's personal information had been released publicly — an act commonly referred to as "doxxing." Hunt characterized the incident as a threat to his family's safety.

The incident drew additional commentary in Texas media, with letters to the editor in the San Antonio Express-News addressing the shared values of candidates in the Republican primary, including Hunt, Cornyn, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Personal Life

Hunt and his wife reside in the Houston, Texas, area. The couple has three children. Shortly before taking office in January 2023, Hunt's son was born prematurely, prompting Hunt to return to Texas from Washington, D.C., to be with his family. The premature birth was publicly reported, and Hunt discussed the experience in media interviews at the time.

Hunt's family life has become a recurring theme in both his congressional service and his Senate campaign, with his campaign website featuring information about his wife and children. During the 2026 Senate primary, Hunt's family became the subject of controversy when he alleged that a Cornyn campaign staffer had publicly released personal information about his family members, leading him to file a police report.