Cornyn selected as Senate majority whip

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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is now the second-highest ranking Republican in the Senate.

Mike W. Thomas

Reporter- San Antonio Business Journal

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Republicans have selected U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas to be the majority whip in the next legislative session that begins in January.

His job will entail canvassing votes in the Republican caucus and working to advance the majority leader's positions on various issues.

Cornyn, who was just re-elected to a third term, will be the second ranking Republican in the Senate leadership next year behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

A native of Houston, Cornyn graduated from Trinity University and St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio and served as judge of the 37th District Court in Bexar County from 1985 to 1991. He served on the Texas Supreme Court from 1991 to 1997 before being elected Attorney General of Texas in 1998.

Cornyn will be the first Texan to serve as Senate majority whip since Democrat Lyndon Johnson did so from 1951-1953.

Mike W. Thomas covers technology/telecom, military, finance, regulatory issues as well as nonprofits/education.