Cornyn, John, 1952-

John Cornyn III (born February 2, 1952) is an American politician and attorney. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as a U.S. Senator from Texas since 2002.

Born in Houston, Texas, Cornyn was raised in San Antonio, Texas, El Paso, Texas, Biloxi, Mississippi, Washington, D.C., and Tachikawa, Japan. He graduated from the American School in Japan before earning a B.A. from Trinity University and a J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law and entering private practice. Cornyn served as a district judge in San Antonio for six years before being elected as a Republican in 1990 to the Texas Supreme Court, on which he served for nearly seven years. While on the Supreme Court, Cornyn earned an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

In 1998, Cornyn was elected Texas attorney general, becoming the first Republican to hold the office since Reconstruction. While in office, Cornyn created the Texas Internet Bureau to investigate illegal internet practices. He fought government waste and corruption by investigating fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims. In 2002, Cornyn was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding Republican Phil Gramm. In the Senate, Cornyn has committed himself to strengthening national defense, securing borders, and strengthening the economy by keeping taxes low, reducing federal spending, and fighting job-killing regulations from Washington bureaucrats. He has also been a tireless advocate for Texas military personnel, veterans, and their families, and he has fought to provide these brave Americans with the best possible support, care, and benefits. He serves on the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees. From 2013 until 2018 Sen. Cornyn was chosen by his colleagues to serve as the Republican Whip.