Voter’s guide: Meet the Texas Democratic candidates running for the U.S. Senate
The Star-Telegram sent questionnaires to all candidates. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Jack Daniel Foster Jr.
Occupation: G.E.D. Teacher
Age: 51
Website: www.votejackdaniel.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: I ran for County Judge in Chambers County, 2018, Lost- 76% Republican County.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No and never been part of any criminal proceeding.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking this office because I am concerned about quality of life and standard of living at the county level, most importantly. And this is an opportunity to exert influence over the State of Texas to release $762 million — $3 million per count — for my economic model, Cycle of Return-Incentives for Texas Counties. The economic model places homeowners and property owners — majority taxpayers — at the apex to invest in county citizenry for skilled vocational trades with incentives.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
I will be working not only with the U.S. Congress on Skills Fund Legislation, but also with the state of Texas to secure my economic model for Texas Counties, regardless of the federal government. Embedded in the economic model are the big three policy priorities- education, healthcare, and retirement.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I am the only one that has clear plans for the 254 Counties in Texas and recognize our quality of life and standard of living come from where we live — not Washington, D.C. or Austin, Texas. Also, my economic model is applicable to the other 2,888 counties in the United States.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
No. He did obstruct Congress, and continues. He did abuse his power; I do not like the division in foreign policy and the possible precedent that will be set — impeaching over governing style.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
At some point the government will have to increase taxes to pay off the debt and the accumulated interest. That time has not come yet, so we must prepare our county citizenry for the increase in taxes that is to come. I recommend my economic model because it will bring people into the workforce as skilled labor and add value to the dollar — lowering the number of dollars needed to pay the debt. Ultimately, the middle class will increase and enable the working populous to withstand a tax increase. And we must immediately rescind the trillion-dollar tax cut for the rich.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
There are only a few things I will concede in trade policy; we cannot do anything about absolute advantage or comparative advantage, but to allow other countries to pay minimum wage. Give American Companies the opportunity to ship our jobs overseas — I am referring to the high-tech jobs. I want other countries to be at parity with pay and I also want no intellectual property protections for American Companies overseas; both actions will cause them to stay home.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
None, this is why I am seeking Skills Fund Legislation on the federal level. When asylum seekers are awaiting their hearing, they will obtain a skilled vocational trade through the investment of homeowners and property owners. If asylum is not granted, they will be able to take care of themselves and family back home. My economic model will not allow for free riders in our system anymore. I would not support any additional border wall or fence. I do support a pathway to citizenship for those who are here illegally, but if they are on any assistance, they will have to get a skilled vocational trade.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
This is our problem; we must trap or eliminate carbon dioxide in exhaustive gases and from the atmosphere. The federal government must put a premium on the skilled vocational trades needed for the “times” and mandate a chemistry class that focuses on carbon dissipation, such as water technology, diesel mechanics, auto mechanics, welding, wind turbine technology, and aviation mechanics. All these vocational trades will be handled through my economic model.
Michael Cooper
Occupation: Automotive Dealer, Psychologist, Pastor, Retired Automotive Executive
Age: 54
Website: www.cooperfortexas.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: I was a candidate for Lt. Governor in 2018. Current President of local NAACP chapter.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Why are you seeking this office?
To make the education system better and give teachers a pay raise using money from the federal level. Fix and repair the Affordable Care Act and move towards Medicare for all. I plan to reform the criminal justice system and create bail reform. Deal with social economic disparities in minority neighborhoods. Create vocational classes that produce youth that make a maximum wage of 16 dollars per hour or more. Protect all human rights. We need universal gun background checks.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Teacher pay raise. Affordable, accessible health care for all. Criminal justice reform.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I have been in a servant leadership position for 30 years and I learned how to negotiate better than most. I know how to get things done with people that do not have my same interests or needs.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
As the President of the Beaumont Branch NAACP, I voted to impeach Donald Trump at the National NAACP convention. So, I would do it again. We must protect our constitution.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
We must cut military spending and that would help us cut the deficit. We fight wars now with import and export tariffs. Very little wars are fought on the ground with hundreds of thousands of people.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
We need to continue pushing our products as we monitor and tariff foreign imports.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
No, to a wall. It is a waste of money. I want to deputize more magistrates to get more immigrants through to citizenship quicker.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
We must get with the chemical plants and lay out a plan and deadline to become greener quicker. We also need to make sure that they include 20% minority companies with green, new companies. In Southeast Texas we have had a hurricane and tropical storm that are supposed to be 1000-year events back to back. We had a plant explode one year later. Our atmosphere is changing and we must create a greener, more cleaner footprint now.
Victor Hugo Harris
Occupation: Military Cyber operations
Age: 52
Website: www.victorfortexas.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: None.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: None.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: None.
Why are you seeking this office?
I feel that the current administration and Texas’ two Republican senators are not adequately representing the people of Texas and are merely following suit with their political party leaders. I also believe that our Democrat options have fallen prey to the influence of the National Democrat Party. Democrats in Texas are different. I identify as a Texas-Democrat, with an emphasis on Texas. First and foremost, I want to address and resolve the Immigration/Border Security issues affecting our state. I have the practical experience and formal education to discuss and advance these issues toward a final solution.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Immigration/Border Security reform. We need to remember our history and be a welcoming country for those that seek opportunities.
Education is critically important. Education opens doors and creates opportunities for both the employee and the employer. We need to establish communities where everyone who wants to pursue higher learning has the opportunity to do so. I support a highly subsidized college and vocational training initiative.
Healthcare. We have a framework for creating universal healthcare. We should further pursue and explore these routes. There are some immediate constraints in financing such a program, but we need to get after it now.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
Qualifications! I have both the practical experience and formal education to succeed. I have served over 34 years in the military. Currently serving as a senior leader in the U.S. Army Reserves. I have deployed to the Middle East on seven different occasions. I have worked with tribal leaders and assisted in negotiations with warlords.
Education:
B.A., History, Saint Mary’s University, TX
M.A., Social and Public Policy, Georgetown University, DC
M.A., National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, RI
MSTI, Info Ops & Cyber Intel, National Intelligence University, DC
Projected Masters of Strategic Studies, Army War College, PA (2020)
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
I haven’t heard the evidence, so I do not know if removal is warranted. However, two years ago members of the House began their terms in a flurry to impeach the President even before it was known he did anything wrong. So how credible is this impeachment? I believe that it is the House’s job to refer the charges (impeachment) and the Senate to hold a trial. This would include all evidence provided and new evidence. It was not the House’s job to try the case; just find enough evidence to make the charges. The Senate needs to call witnesses.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
Attack the discretionary funding. First, I would decrease defense spending. Reduce the size of the force, reduce commitments overseas, slow down the purchase, in numbers, of new equipment. Second, I would freeze the amount of increase in all other government programs. The arbitrary, or calculated guess, used every year to increase the budget of every program should be frozen for four years then reevaluated moving forward.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
I would return to multilateral trade agreements by region where we work with partner nations to benefit all parties. I would address China’s bad actor policies with the World Trade Organization and create multilateral agreements and build coalitions to address China’s unfair actions. China is a bad actor on a global scale so we need a global coalition to address their actions. We shouldn’t go at it alone. We shouldn’t do it in war, so we shouldn’t do it in trade.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
Complete Immigration/Border Security reform is needed. That is my number one issue. I would support a wall to channel immigrants away from unpopulated and desert areas where we find hundreds of dead bodies every year. I support a path to citizenship for minor children. I recommend a resident alien work permit for those who break our immigration laws, where they will be allowed to stay so long as they are productive members in our country. I would not support citizenship for those who cross illegally, though I support integrating them into our society with all other full benefits earned.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
Texas has disproportionately been affected by climate change. We have flooding in the Valley, Corpus, and Houston, while the agricultural communities in the western part of the state have suffered under unprecedented heat and drought.
The government should continue to support efforts to build resilience to weather and climate extremes now and in the future. Invest in the clean energy sector by providing funding and grants to develop clean energy alternatives. Invest in incentives for commercial use of biomass — sugar products and carbon upcycling to replace fossil fuel products such as plastic — set sunset goals for the fossil fuel industry.
Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez
Occupation: I recently took a leave of absence from my role as Executive Director of Jolt.
Age: 38
Website: www.cristinafortexas.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: N/A
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
When I was fourteen years old, I shoplifted a pair of jeans. Thankfully, I was able to take part in diversion programs that worked to help juveniles like me stay out of criminal proceedings and support them to change their course.
At the age of nineteen, I was arrested by the City of Cincinnati in violation of my First Amendment rights. I was attending a public rally when police began demanding all participants give their name and social security number and I refused. With the support of the American Civil Liberties Union I sued the City of Cincinnati and won. The city had to change this policy, which was found to be in violation of the First Amendment.
In 2013, I participated in a non-violent civil disobedience with 100 women, among them current Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, to defend the rights of immigrant families. No charges were filed in that case.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: N/A
Why are you seeking this office?
All throughout my life, I’ve worked hard to fix things that are unfair, to make things right, and to advocate for the interests of all working people. I’ve fought for Texans by founding and leading two of our state’s largest and most important voting and civil rights organizations, the Workers Defense Project and Jolt. Now I’m running for the U.S. Senate to continue that fight — because I want to create a government that truly represents us, the people. I believe that no state has more to lose or gain than Texas on the issues that matter the most.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
- Achieving universal health care: I will fight for Medicare for All because I believe it’s the easiest and most cost-efficient way to provide all Texans with quality healthcare.
- To build a strong economy, I support raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour and tying it to inflation, as well as relieving the burdens of student debt by supporting efforts to make public universities and community colleges tuition-free.
- Addressing the climate crisis: Through a Green New Deal, we can combat the climate crisis while investing in our economy, creating new jobs and technology that enables us to leave no oil or gas worker behind.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I’ve spent the past decade and a half leading organizations dedicated to improving the lives of working people in this state. Along the way, I’ve led campaigns to protect immigrant families’ rights, raise wages and make jobs safer, make college affordable for students, and register and mobilize thousands of young Latinos in the 2018 election. No other candidate has proven experience mobilizing Texans across the state towards change the way that I do. We need strong turnout from communities of color and young people to win, and I believe that I am the candidate that knows how to do this based on my years of organizing in these communities.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
The evidence shows that our President has put his own self-interest over that of the American people. He has used his position of power to push our allies to help him seek reelection by investigating his political rivals. This goes beyond any party or politician — our very democracy is on the line. It is the duty of the Senate to remove someone who has been impeached from their office if they are not acting in the best interests of the American people, and I believe that is the case here. If I was in the Senate, based on the evidence that we’ve seen so far, I would vote to remove the President.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
I believe that the first and most important step that Congress can take to reduce the deficit is to reverse the Trump administration’s recent tax cuts. These have primarily benefited corporations and the wealthy — corporations have been bragging that they now pay $0 in taxes. In the Senate, I will ensure that our tax system is fair so that we can reduce the deficit and put our money towards what Americans really need — like universal healthcare, public education, and climate action.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
I previously worked for United Auto Workers, one of the unions most impacted by trade policies like NAFTA. I also worked with thousands of immigrants, that had worked as farmers that were displaced by NAFTA decimating Mexico’s agricultural economy.
Trade agreements that think only about the impact of products and not the impact on people, fail. We can have effective trade policy that lifts people out of poverty, protects good union jobs and protects our environment. I think the most important change we can make is to ensure that unions, farmers and environmentalists are at the negotiating table — and I will never vote for any trade agreement where they are not.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
I support extending citizenship to DREAMers, who are Americans in every way except on paper. But I also believe that we need to legalize the status of the millions of hardworking and honest immigrants that have been part of our communities for years.
Instead of spending our budget on detaining children and building a wall, we should focus on building an economy that protects and advances the rights of both American and immigrant workers. We need an immigration system that allows future generations to come here safely and legally, that fills our labor needs, and that empowers all immigrants to live their full lives as families and human beings.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
As the second-largest economy in the country with massive wind and solar potential, I will make sure Texas is a leader in our nation’s transition into a green energy future, because no state has more to lose or gain than Texas.
My proposal, A Green New Deal for Texas, will position Texas as the leading green energy producer and job creator in the country. We will achieve this by: fully utilizing Texas’ clean energy potential; creating a 21st century transportation system by supporting high speed rail and electric vehicles; investing in research and innovation to manufacture new clean technologies; building green, efficient, and climate-resilient infrastructure; creating a climate conservation corps for our young workforce; and ensuring a clean and healthy environment for all Texans.
Amanda Edwards
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 38
Website: www.amandafortexas.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: Houston City Council, At-Large Pos. 4 (2016-2020)
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Not in my personal capacity.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am running for the U.S. Senate to ensure that all Texans can get the results that they deserve. We have seen too many politicians come into communities, over-promise and then under-deliver. You must have effective servant leaders in office with a focus on people and an ability to deliver results for them.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
(1) Expanding Healthcare Access & Reducing Costs. (2) Providing Economic Opportunity for all Texans. (3) Improving Access to Education.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
Voters should select me because I am the only candidate in this race who can both unseat John Cornyn and deliver the results that Texans deserve. In order to win in the general election, we must activate persuadable voters again, but also galvanize more of the base, as well as younger voters. Having a messenger like me, who has made a true difference in the lives of the constituents she serves (incl. communities of color and 35-year-olds and younger), will help to bridge the disconnect between voter turnout and registration. In addition, I will be able to be effective as the next U.S. Senator once elected.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
Given what I know from the proceedings, I would vote to remove President Trump from office. The evidence shown has revealed that he misused and abused the power of his office and he blocked the Congressional investigation into the matter. No one should be above the law.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
I would support the repeal of the 2017 Trump Tax cut for the wealthy. I would also reform our tax policy so that it incentivizes job growth and strengthens the middle class. I would also close special interest tax loopholes.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
For many folks in the agricultural business, Trump’s tariff policies have left them shortchanged as their livelihoods remain in warehouses unable to be exported. As a first step, we must reverse President Trump’s tariff policies and return to being a leader in global trade. Our trade policies must recognize workers’ rights here and abroad, protect the environment, and generate jobs here at home.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
We must lead with courage rather than by fear on this issue. While we should keep our borders secure, we must not waste extreme amounts of taxpayer dollars to fulfill President Trump’s campaign promise of a wall. In addition to appropriately handling the border issues of family separation, I support codifying into law Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We should provide a path to citizenship to those who are here, playing by the rules and contributing to our country. We should focus the attention of ICE on key issues, such as human trafficking.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
As someone who comes from a region where we have had four 500-year flood events in the past five years, I know the impacts of climate change. We must begin taking strides that will safeguard against climate change. First, we should rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. We should also incentivize the use of clean and renewable energy. We should also increase regulation of carbon production. And, we should strengthen our emission standards again.
Royce West
Occupation: Attorney; State Senator, District 23
Age: 68
Website: www.roycewest.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: Texas Senate, since 1993, currently serving.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Yes, as an attorney representing other parties, no bankruptcy proceedings.
Why are you seeking this office?
I’m running because Texans need a voice in the U.S. Senate who will advocate for their interests, stand up to Donald Trump, and bring people together to create coalitions to pass important legislation that will positively impact all Texans.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Health care reform, education, civil rights for all Texans (especially voting rights).
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
Experience. The next Congress is going to be faced with a number of historic issues. Texans need someone there who knows how to work in a legislative body, and someone who can bring people together to make big ideas a reality. I’m that person.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
I would have voted to hear testimony for and against the President.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
Adjust the tax code. The 2017 tax cut is driving the deficit now and it needs to be reversed since it’s not helping the economy in any meaningful way.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
We need to be more aggressive with regard to protecting American workers. We also need to be far better negotiators with regard to what our trading partners can and can not do.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
I support decriminalization of border crossing, it should be handled as a civil offense. I support a path to citizenship for those who want it and I support reforming the asylum process that cases can be adjudicated faster. I do not support any nonsense border wall as it’s a waste of money and is taking the private property of individuals and religious institutions.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
We need to work with all stakeholders to transition to a carbon free future and that will take time we unfortunately do not have. Knowing this, I propose an initiative involving the leading research universities in the country, like Texas A&M and the University of Texas, to develop ways to bring down the carbon load in the atmosphere which will allow us to slow and eventually reverse climate change. This, to me, must be a component of anyone’s climate change plan since we are already seeing the effects. We can’t wait for twenty years, we need action on this today.
Adrian Ocegueda
Occupation: Private Equity Principal
Age: 45
Website: www.texasreason.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: N/A.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Why are you seeking this office?
I am running to impact all three facets of our political landscape: issues, internal law-making process, and public will. The difficulty of my candidacy is that impacting public will is exceedingly difficult, given the polarization of our current two-party system. Impacting internal law-making process will require establishing penalties for a gridlocked Congress. Adopting more policy allows for data to be gathered, which moves us past political ideology. Most candidates and constituents want an ultimate impact to the issues, but we need to have a clear understanding that making change in this area is dramatically hampered by the other facets.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Changing the standing rules in the U.S. Senate to encourage a higher velocity of policy adoption.
Conducting a comprehensive economic impact of best- and worst-case climate change scenarios. Different from a climate analysis this would focus on a global industry, infrastructure, and economic impact analysis.
While there are many other national issues that require (and will get attention), I believe we need to prioritize de-polarizing our political system as much as possible. One initiative to this end would be to set an automatic trigger for the debt ceiling so that our creditworthiness is not put in jeopardy.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I truly believe that our “lead” candidates in this race will lose in the general election, regardless of who it is and the money they have. They are running by the same political playbook that has failed over several election cycles. Unless we start to challenge political norms and shift our communication in a way that breaks from the partisan stalemate, we will continue to lose. The Austin Statesman recently described me as ‘marching to a different drummer,’ and I think that is true. My approach is different, but I believe it is the best to actually enact meaningful legislation, which should be our ultimate goal.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
First, I would have voted for additional witnesses and documents. As for removal, a sober assessment of this issue has caused me to evaluate the limitations of our current impeachment penalties. It appears our options under impeachment are either the political death penalty “removal” or a verbal warning “censure.” It is clear to me that a punishment is necessary in this case, but the extreme binary decision here, makes it difficult to get the votes. The result is no penalty, which is detrimental to correcting behavior and, in the long run, preserving our democracy. We need more options.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
My response here may cause some cognitive dissonance. Meaning, it will not conform to your long-held beliefs about federal budgets, so it will make you feel uncomfortable. I believe at the federal level only, we need deficits. I explain this in more detail in my podcast “Press for Money.” M1 Money supply in 1980 was about $385 billion, and as of August 2019 that figure had grown to $3.8 trillion. We have fiat currency. We need money to drive our economy, and the way money gets into our system without the creation of private debt is by running budget deficits.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
The current trade (tariff) policy is limited in its view of second and third level impacts, and there is no comprehensive plan to direct the results of such tariffs to move structural change in markets or to move global policy in some other area, such as international environmental policy. I would investigate and amend the 1917, 1974, and 1977 Acts that the President utilized for imposing these tariffs. The amendments would narrow the circumstances where temporary emergency Presidential tariff authority can be used and require the adoption of a longer term economic or strategic plan after 180 days.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
I may support the building of additional border wall or fencing, based on a strategic rational need not a blanket policy. My belief is that the removal of well-established immigrants will have a negative economic impact to certain communities, industries and pricing of goods and services. Which suggests we need some path to documentation. Generally, immigration is likely to pose a longer-term issue for our nation. We will need to understand how our international support of Central and South America development & governance, as well as, climate change will impact this area.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
There is no single issue on our national and international agenda that is larger than addressing climate change, both in terms of scope and scale. While this is an area where market forces may help to reduce carbon emissions, the timing and coordination required will require significant federal government involvement. We will need to work on parallel paths of reducing carbon emissions while still working on adaptation initiatives. Preparedness plans will have to be put in place from departments as diverse as DOD to the USDA. Finally, we will have to fully participate and lead international efforts in this area.
MJ Hegar
Occupation: Author
Age: 43
Website: www.mjfortexas.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years:
In 2018 I ran for U.S. Congress in Texas 31st Congressional District, where I grew up. While I wasn’t able to overcome the existing partisan tilt of the district, I am proud of what we were able to accomplish. We helped flip two state house seats and took a district with a safe incumbent who won his last midterm by 32 points and brought the race within 2.9 points. We accomplished all this by empowering new voices, mobilizing first-time volunteers, and turning out new voters.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
After an injury during a rescue mission in Afghanistan left me unable to fly, I was barred from applying for my next job simply because I was a woman. I felt that policy was not only wrong but it was hurting military effectiveness, retention, and recruiting, which is why I partnered with the ACLU and other servicewomen to sue the Department of Defense to open up hundreds of thousands of jobs for women in the military. Ultimately, it didn’t go far in court because the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs agreed to make the change without a judicial judgment.
Why are you seeking this office?
As a rescue helicopter pilot flying wildfire suppression missions, I was trained to find the biggest bucket of water and use it to put out the biggest fire. I got into this race because that fire is in the U.S. Senate where all progress on critical issues impacting Texans and the future we are leaving my boys is being halted. When I look at DC, I don’t see the Texas values of courage, independence, and service represented, and it’s time we sent them an ass-kicking Texas woman to deliver a dose of those values and get our government working for Texans.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
We will not get the needed action to stop gun violence, address climate change, lower the cost of prescription drugs, or extend health care access to every Texan until we get the influence of money out of our political system. On day one I will work to pass comprehensive campaign finance and ethics reforms that ensure Washington is accountable to the voters — and no one else.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
When I see a problem, I fix it. When I saw people injured on the battlefield, I flew in and saved them. When I saw the military was being hurt by a policy that excluded women from combat jobs, I fixed it. Texans are sick and tired of career politicians. They are looking for a fighter who has faced the same struggles they have faced and will stand up against the special interests and money corroding our political system to get stuff done.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
As someone who was willing to take a bullet to fulfill my oath to support and defend the Constitution, it was infuriating to witness Senator Cornyn under the direction of his political boss Mitch McConnell continually violate his oath, refuse to have a fair process, and block evidence and testimony. While the American people were deprived of a fair process, based on the publicly available evidence I saw I believe the President is guilty both of obstructing Congress and abusing the power of his office for political benefit.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
Politicians from both parties have let federal spending get out of control and are leaving the next generation to pick up the tab. We should not be wasting billions of dollars on an ineffective wall that robs our military construction budget while seizing land from Texans. We can reduce Medicare costs without cutting benefits by allowing the program to negotiate prescription drug prices. It is time we take a hard look at areas where we can cut government waste and make sure we are using your tax dollars in the most effective way possible.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
We’re a state and a country that is dependent on trade for our economy and national security and we need to be the ones setting the rules. Passing the reworked USMCA was an important step in the right direction. However, the trade war with China that resulted from these new tariffs has cost Texas consumers and businesses billions of dollars. Our agricultural sector has been particularly hard hit, with Texas farms seeing a spike in bankruptcies. I’ll push to stop this pattern of escalating tariffs and work with our allies to challenge China’s practices in institutions like the WTO.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
It’s time to roll up our sleeves and collaborate with our border communities, businesses, and labor to pass comprehensive immigration reform. That means starting with permanently ending child separation, ensuring asylum seekers are not treated as criminals and their claims are properly processed, securing the border with effective procedures and technologies instead of wasting billions on an ineffective wall that would require robbing our military construction budget while seizing land from Texans, and building a path to citizenship for the 1.8 million undocumented immigrants in Texas that is reflective of our shared values.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
As the mother of two little boys, climate change is my number one issue. Climate change is the greatest threat to the health and safety of our communities, the world we are leaving for the next generation, and our national security. We cannot wait any longer to take action. We must set aggressive goals for the expansion of clean, renewable energy, and invest in clean energy manufacturing and sustainable transportation. Texas has the opportunity to be America’s leader in wind and solar energy, and we should use our natural, renewable resources to create jobs here in our state.
Chris Bell
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 60 years
Website: www.electchrisbell.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: I served on Houston City Council from 1997 to 2001, chairing the Ethics Committee and Council Committee on Customer Service. I served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas’ 25th Congressional District from 2003 to 2005, where I was Assistant Whip and served on four standing committees and founding the Port Security Caucus, a group dedicated to improving our national security.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Why are you seeking this office?
Cornyn and Trump are increasingly recreating our government in their own self-interested and special interest-serving images. Donald Trump Jr. called John Cornyn Trump’s “biggest ally.” I have years of experience working for clients and in the community. But my years in office were, by far, the best opportunity to do the most good for the most people. Democrats now have an opportunity to retake the majority in the Senate. I want to be a part of the wave that returns our country to its core values and fundamental ideals, while moving it forward to a prosperous and inclusive future.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Making Medicare accessible through a public option for all Americans, no matter their age;
Immediate action on climate change; and
We must stop the immoral and inhumane treatment of immigrants, both at the border and in the heartland.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I am the only one who has won statewide. I have demonstrated that I can build relationships within and across the aisle to get things done and make principled decisions that benefit our country and the American people.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
Yes, on both charges.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
I believe the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) has been an awful attempt at tax reform and needs to be completely redone. The wealthiest individuals now pay less in taxes than our working class. We must implement a wealth tax on the ultra-rich, reform the estate tax, and close loopholes for corporations and individuals, like the carried interest loophole.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
The Trade Policy of the United States must put greater emphasis on parity between workforce and environmental standards in its international trade agreements. Furthermore, the United States must ensure we have actionable and enforceable provisions that will hold state actors accountable to their obligations. Finally, I believe that we should move away from ad hoc Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs and focus on strengthening the rules-based international trade system that has laid the foundation for American success in international trade for the past 75 years.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
I oppose the wall. We must create a pathway to citizenship for not only the DREAMers, but also other temporary resident holders, such as TPS and DED holders. I will sponsor legislation that offers a clear path to citizenship and establishes protections for immigrant communities, as well as dismantling the horrible apparatus of family separation.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
We must rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and invest in green technologies and sustainable infrastructure to make a lasting, long-term impact that will create jobs and position Texas to remain the energy capital of the world. Unfortunately, our current Senator refuses to admit the existential risk that climate change poses. The last time I stood in my house in Meyerland, my home had 7 feet of water in it. Unlike John Cornyn, you don’t have to convince me of the real costs of climate change.
Annie “Mamá” Garcia
Occupation: Attorney, small-business owner, non-profit founder and fed-up mama
Age: 42
Website: anniemamagarcia.com, johncornynsucks.com, or runannierun.com (they all get you to the same place).
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: I have never run for office before, and never aspired to be a politician (still don’t). I refuse to accept any longer the predatory politics of John Cornyn and this administration, and was compelled to run.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: While I once outran Peruvian police (a story of the Moth), I have never been caught, arrested or charged with a crime.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Unlike our President, I run a profitable business and pay my contractors. I have never been involved in a bankruptcy proceeding or civil lawsuit.
Why are you seeking this office?
I have three young kids, ages 3 to 7, and I am truly terrified for their future. We live in the richest country in the history of the world. Why then is life so hard for so many?
I believe this race is the most pivotal in the country and I frankly didn’t see anyone else in it that can beat John Cornyn. If Democrats are to break their 30-year losing streak in statewide races, then we need someone who is operating from a different playbook and has the moral clarity, political courage and work ethic to inspire Texans to demand control of their government.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
I want to inspire people to engage civically and to vote. Then I want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote and achieve 75% voter participation. Second, I want to create a new playbook for people to run and win elections. The exorbitant amount of money that conventional wisdom dictates you need to run means that people who know personally the struggles of the majority are effectively locked out. Campaign finance reform is part of that. Finally, I want to create an expectation of accountability. On Day 1, I will launch a hotline whereby you will receive a human — and humane — response within 48 hours.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
Because I will win. And I will work tirelessly to represent all the people who can’t afford to “max out” their campaign contributions at $2,800 — the equivalent of 2 ½ months’ salary at the Texas minimum wage rate. We have a system in which only the rich are entitled to govern. The only metric that seems to matter is money. Well, I am polling 3 points behind the frontrunner, having spent less than 1% than her. Democrats haven’t won a statewide race since about the time I worked on my first campaign — Ann Richard’s race. I know we can win if we stop playing by the old rules.
If you were currently a senator, would you vote to remove President Donald Trump from office on the current impeachment charges?
As a candidate, I am not allowed to accept a single dollar from a foreign national. Why should someone be allowed to influence candidates through money if they don’t even have the right to vote? What this President did is even more insidious. He tried to strongarm a foreign country using his public office to damage a political opponent, with the objective of winning reelection. I consider this treason because he subrogated our national interests for his own personal gain. At a minimum I would have voted to remove him. And as an attorney, I would have then examined every legal tool available to hold him civilly and criminally accountable.
The federal government is accumulating record debt, with massive deficits even in a strong economy. What specific steps would you endorse to reduce the deficit?
We have a $22,030,000,000,000 problem. As a finance attorney, I relish the idea of sitting down with our loan agreements and renegotiating the terms. As a mother of three on a budget, I know that what goes out is just as important as what comes in. I want to take a hard look at military spending. We need to prioritize our troops over outdated technology and vanity projects like border walls that do nothing to protect us from the real threat to national security. Finally, corporations and the rich need to pay their fair share.
What changes should be made in U.S. trade policy?
While I do believe that this President doesn’t understand the complexities of international trade, even a broken clock gets it right twice a day. As an entrepreneur, I have personally researched manufacturing in China. The reality is that American businesses are completely vulnerable when it comes to protecting intellectual property, the essence of innovation. We have got to get serious about protecting American innovation and enforcing international and intellectual property law, and the leverage provided through tariffs on consumer goods produced in China is one important tool in our toolbox.
What changes to immigration law do you support? Would you vote to build any additional border wall or fence? Do you support a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally?
For me, this is deeply personal. My husband is a naturalized U.S. citizen. As an attorney, I have won asylum for families fleeing from horrific abuse and probable death. America’s diversity is what makes her uniquely great and is our competitive advantage.
The system has been broken for decades. Our elected officials lack the moral spine and political courage to fix it and have been content to rely on illegal immigration by economic necessity, while demonizing undocumented immigrants.
If I am elected, on November 4, 2020, I will move to McAllen and figure out how we reunite the families from whom we have kidnapped and caged their children.
What steps should the federal government take to combat climate change, if any?
Our state and even planet are on the cusp of what I fear is a point of no return. We need to plan for a sustainable, 22nd-century economy, one that sustains both our planet and our people, and takes the opportunity to update our neglected infrastructure to lead the world on the new economy. In Texas, we need to be especially thoughtful regarding how we utilize the knowledge and experience of workers in industries that will be necessarily phased out to provide them an even brighter future. All of this is purely hypothetical unless lawmakers understand the urgency of the moment and act decisively.
DR Hunter
Did not respond.
Sema Hernandez
Did not respond.
This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 2:26 PM.
