Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) is up for reelection, and he will face a strong Democratic opposition as Democrats look to turn the White House blue.
His challenger, MJ Hegar (D), released a statement to supporters in an email, calling herself “a combat veteran, a mom, and a proud Texan” who is looking to unseat Cornyn because “that seat belongs to the people of Texas.”
Outlining her military background, Hegar explained that she “was shot down by the Taliban in Afghanistan,” she “was wounded, but I strapped myself to the side of a helicopter and returned fire until we escaped.”
Now, at home, she commented that she’s “not afraid to stand up to power,” making the distinction that Cornyn does exactly that.
She explained that “he’s Mitch McConnell’s right-hand man and for far too long, he’s let party bosses and corporate lobbyists control his Senate seat at the expense of the people he claims to represent.”
She noted that “the Washington Post ranked this Senate seat as one of the most likely to flip next year,” and it’s her intention to be the one to help do so.
Hegar concluded that “our kids deserve a better future than the one Washington is building for them.” She wants her “two boys – and every child in this country – to be safe, healthy, and secure enough to chase the American dream the way I did.”
In the 2016 presidential election, the state of Texas voted red, and Republicans maintain that the state will not be turning blue anytime soon.
