Former cosmonaut Terry Virts declares run for Texas Senate position
Fresh Take:
🚀 Terry Virts, Ex-NASA Astronaut, Jumps into Texas' Senate Race
In a bold move, former NASA astronaut Terry Virts announced his candidacy for Texas' US Senate seat on June 23. The retired U.S. Air Force colonel and two-time crew member of the International Space Station (ISS) shared his decision in a video he posted on social media, citing the need to halt Trump's turmoil and the encroaching corruption.
Virts sees this quest as a mission to challenge Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's bid, who's currently polling higher than John Cornyn, the incumbent Republican Senator seeking reelection in 2026. Framing his campaign against a divisive and dysfunctional Washington, Virts echoes the sentiment that "after every mission, there's no room for excuses" and that the debrief occurs promptly ("after the 2024 election disaster, Washington Democratic leadership skipped the debrief").
During his tenure with NASA, Virts piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-130 mission in 2010 and served as ISS commander in 2015. Logging more than 212 cumulative days in space, he hasn't kept a low profile since his retirement, making waves through his books, public speaking engagements, and STEM outreach.
👉 "[May 23], Launching campaign for U.S. Senate. I'm seeking to serve Texas because I love my country-I believe in its ideals and values. I'm an Air Force Colonel and an astronaut, but really, I'm an American first, a Texan second, and a common-sense Democrat 3rd. It's time for change."
As a Senator, Virts foresees using his experiences in space to foster collaboration and problem-solving on Earth. Echoing the beauty and danger of Earth from space, Virts notes that chaos is lethal and that quick adaptation, problem-solving, and effective leadership are necessary for survival.
Politics in Space: A Trend Among Former Astronauts
Several Space-faring politicians have gone before Virts, achieving prominence both in space and in government. Examples include:
- Marc Garneau (Canada)
- Space Career: Canada's first astronaut, Garneau flew on STS-41G in 1984.
- Political Career: He became a Member of Parliament, serving as Minister of Transport and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Canadian government.
- Julie Payette (Canada)
- Space Career: A Canadian astronaut, Payette flew on STS-96 and STS-127.
- Political Career: She served as the 29th Governor-General of Canada from 2017 to 2021.
- Mark Kelly (USA)
- Space Career: Kelly, a NASA astronaut, flew four space missions.
- Political Career: He is currently serving as a U.S. Senator from Arizona, elected in 2020.
- Harrison Schmitt (USA)
- Space Career: Schmitt was a NASA astronaut and geologist who flew on Apollo 17, the last manned mission to the Moon.
- Political Career: He served as a U.S. Senator from New Mexico from 1977 to 1983.
In the face of political turmoil, Virts' entry into politics reflects a growing trend of astronauts leveraging their unique perspectives and leadership skills to shape the future from within the Capitol.
- Terry Virts, recognizing the need for change and the ideals of his country, announced his candidacy for the US Senate seat in Texas on June 23.
- As a former NASA astronaut, Virts aims to bring his experiences and skills in space to foster collaboration and effective problem-solving in Earth's political arena, emphasizing the importance of quick adaptation and leadership for survival.
- In an attempt to halt the current turmoil and corruption, Virts chose to challenge Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's bid, seeking to replace incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 election.
- The news of Virts' Senate campaign sparked a conversation about the growing trend of former astronauts involving themselves in political matters, with notable examples like Marc Garneau and Mark Kelly.
- Historically, astronauts like Julie Payette and Harrison Schmitt have also used their unique perspectives and leadership skills, garnering positions in the government like Minister of Foreign Affairs, Governor-General of Canada, and U.S. Senator.
- In light of the current climate of war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and general-news, it seems that these former space travelers are taking their mission of service one step further, entering the halls of power not only for American citizens but also for those across the globe, promising a fresh take on the country's future.
