Cornyn was first elected in 2002. In the 2014 election, he defeated David Alameel (D) 62% to 34%. At the time of the 2020 election, Democrats had last won a statewide election in Texas in 1994. In the preceding U.S. Senate election, incumbent Ted Cruz (R) defeated then-Rep.Beto O'Rourke (D) 51% to 48%.
The outcome of this race affected partisan control of the U.S. Senate. Thirty-five of 100 seats were up for election, including two special elections. At the time of the election, Republicans had a 53-45 majority over Democrats in the Senate. Independents who caucus with the Democrats held the two remaining seats. Republicans faced greater partisan risk in the election. They defended 23 seats while Democrats defended 12. Both parties had two incumbents representing states the opposite party's presidential nominee won in 2016.
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Texas modified its absentee/mail-in voting, candidate filing, and early voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
Absentee/mail-in voting: Local election officials could not reject an absentee ballot due to a perceived signature mismatch unless the voter was given a pre-rejection notice of this finding and a "meaningful opportunity to cure his or her ballot's rejection." Return locations for absentee/mail-in ballots were limited to one per county.
Candidate filing procedures: The petition deadline for independent candidates for non-presidential office was extended to August 13, 2020.
Early voting: Early voting began on October 13, 2020.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[1] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Biography: Cornyn received a B.A. from Trinity University, a J.D. from St. Mary's School of Law, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Virginia. He worked as an attorney. Cornyn served as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2009 to 2012 and as Republican Party whip from 2013 to 2018.
Key Messages
The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.
Cornyn said his accomplishments included working for Hurricane Harvey relief, strengthening the criminal background check system, reducing the backlog of untested rape kits, passing tax cuts, and cracking down on human trafficking.
Cornyn's campaign ads said he secured relief funds for local school districts and hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic.
A Cornyn campaign ad said Hegar was too liberal for Texas and would not compromise. It said she supported cap-and-trade, higher taxes, government-controlled healthcare, defunding police, and legalizing prostitution.
Biography: After graduating from the University of Texas, Hegar joined the U.S. Air Force. Trained as a combat search and rescue and medevac pilot, Hegar served three tours in Afghanistan. She was awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. Hegar ran for the U.S. House in 2018.
Key Messages
The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.
Hegar said the state deserved someone who represented Texas values of strength, courage, and independence, not weakness, partisanship, and gridlock.
Hegar emphasized her background in the Air Force and said her mission was to keep Texas families safe. She said she'd work for quality, affordable healthcare for every Texan.
Hegar said Cornyn worried more about politics than saving lives during the coronavirus pandemic and that he had served special interests over Texans.
Submitted Biography: "Born in Stillwater OK, 1962
BA, Classical Studies, Rice University, 1984
Instructional technology and training specialist in Houston TX
Green Party of Texas nominee for US Senate, 2012 and 2020
Harris County Green Party nominee for County Judge, 2014
Early Green Party organizer in Harris County
Musician, bicycle commuter and cycling activist
Houston Dynamo (MLS) and Dash (NWSL) fan"
Key Messages
To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.
The Green Party calls for Medicare for All, free public college tuition, ending endless wars including the Drug War, and preventing climate catastrophe.
If you cannot vote for warmongers and still live with yourself, vote Green.
The two-party system needs to be destroyed. It keeps imperialism & capitalism alive because they are profitable. Imperialism & capitalism need to stoke racism & xenophobia to stay in business.
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. Senate Texas in 2020.
This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[24] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[25]
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[26]
Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[27][28][29]
This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.
Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites, if available.
Oct. 31, 2020: A Morning Consult poll found Cornyn with 47% and Hegar with 43%. The margin of error was +/- 2 percentage points.
October 30, 2020: Vice presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) campaigned with Hegar in Texas.[35]
October 26, 2020: YouGov and the University of Massachusetts Lowell conducted a poll that found Cornyn with 45% support to Hegar's 42%. The margin of error was +/- 4.2 percentage points.
October 20, 2020: A University of Texas/Dallas Morning Newspoll found Cornyn with 42%, Hegar with 34%, and 18% undecided. The margin of error was +/- 3.2 percentage points.
October 19, 2020: A Quinnipiac poll found Cornyn with 49% and Hegar with 43%. The margin of error was +/- 2.9 percentage points.
October 18, 2020: A Data for Progress poll conducted for Indivisible and Crooked Media found Cornyn with 43%, Hegar with 36%, and 19% undecided. The margin of error was +/- 3.2 percentage points.
October 15, 2020: A Public Policy Polling poll found Cornyn with 49% and Hegar with 46%. The margin of error was +/- 3.7 percentage points.[36]
October 13, 2020:
The Dallas Morning News editorial board endorsed Cornyn.[30]
The Cook Political Report changed its race rating from Likely Republican to Lean Republican.[37]
October 12, 2020: The Houston Chronicle editorial board endorsed Hegar.[32]
October 6, 2020: A Civiqs poll conducted for Daily Kos found Cornyn with 47% and Hegar with 46%. The margin of error was +/- 3.4 percentage points.[38]
October 5, 2020: A Data for Progress poll conducted for Indivisible found Cornyn with 45% to Hegar's 42%. The margin of error was +/- 2.2. percentage points.[39]
October 4, 2020: A YouGov poll conducted for the University of Texas and the Texas Tribune found Cornyn with 50% support to Hegar's 42%. The margin of error was +/- 3.3 percentage points.[40]
September 25, 2020: A University of Massachusetts Lowell and YouGov poll found Cornyn with 50% support to Hegar's 40%, and 9% of respondents were undecided. The margin of error was +/- 4.3 percentage points.[41]
September 22, 2020: A Data for Progress poll sponsored by the Defend Students Action Fund found Cornyn with 40% support to Hegar's 38%, and 22% of respondents were undecided. The margin of error was +/- 3.6 percentage points.[42]
Sept. 18, 2020: A YouGov poll sponsored by CBS News found Cornyn apparently leading Hegar. Cornyn had 46% support to Hegar's 41%, with 13% of voters undecided or backing a different candidate. The poll reported a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.[43]
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
"We must take immediate action to secure our borders and to fix our broken immigration system. The people of Texas demand results, not more broken promises from Washington."
-Senator John Cornyn
As a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which handles immigration and border security issues, Sen. Cornyn is a leader on issues that affect the lives of Texans every day. He strongly believes that securing our southern border must be a top priority in dealing with our national security and our broken immigration system. Sen. Cornyn believes common-sense reforms are needed to improve legal immigration and increase the flow of legitimate trade and travel through our ports of entry.
Economic & Fiscal Responsibility
"The role of the government is not to create wealth, but to foster an environment where America's entrepreneurial spirit can thrive and achieve great things. We must help the economy grow, encourage the creation of jobs and opportunities, and help Americans keep more of their hard-earned money to save and spend as they see fit."
-Senator John Cornyn
Senator Cornyn believes that the goal of our economic policies should be to create an environment that fosters economic production, job growth, and an increase in real wages.
The key to a prosperous economy is reducing the high level of taxation on Americans and businesses that has stunted their economic growth. Tax relief will allow American businesses to innovate and create jobs, and allow American families to keep more of what they earn. In 2017, the Senate passed the most comprehensive tax reform in the last three decades, and you can learn about this historic legislation here.
Congress must also be careful stewards of your tax dollars, focusing on lowering annual deficits and recovering from our $22 trillion debt so future generations can enjoy the same opportunities available today. By eliminating excessive spending and increasing economic activity over time, we can reduce the current budget deficit.
Science & Technology
"Our ability to innovate is crucial to the success of our economy and competitiveness with other countries. Investing in science and technology, and increasing our ability to innovate, is an important part of keeping the economy in Texas and America strong."
-Senator John Cornyn
Senator Cornyn believes innovation is crucial to our growing economy. Career and technical education are important building blocks that increase America’s competitiveness in a global economy, fostering workforce development here at home.
Instilling a strong foundation of the science, technology, education, and math (STEM) fields in our youth will help them succeed as citizens and individuals in any field they may choose. By investing in science and technology education initiatives, we equip new workers with valuable skills required for success — encouraging innovation and energizing our economy.
Education
"Children are our nation's most valuable resource, and it is essential that every child has an equal opportunity to improve their future and develop to their fullest potential through a quality education."
-Senator John Cornyn
As the father of two daughters educated in public schools, Senator Cornyn believes every child deserves the best start in life, and that means access to a first-class education system. He understands the necessity of helping all children achieve their potential and knows that good schools strengthen our society by giving young Texans a strong foundation to help them succeed as citizens and individuals.
Senator Cornyn understands the results we want for our children require accountability for education providers but that federal bureaucracy and red tape keep us from reaching it. That is why his efforts in the Senate are focused on providing states and local school districts the freedom to design innovative, educational programs that fit the needs of each child and individual school districts. He believes higher education provides individuals with opportunities for success and economic mobility, whether that means an associate’s degree, a workforce certification, or a bachelor’s degree and beyond. For this reason, he has supported expanding aid for low-income students, increasing dual-credit or early college courses, and implementing market-based reforms to federal loan interest rates to help students and parents.
Military & Veterans
"As the son of a veteran, I am personally dedicated to looking out for the interests of all military personnel, active and retired, who call Texas home. The honor-bound agreement between our men and women in uniform and our nation does not end at retirement. No veteran should ever be forgotten."
-Senator John Cornyn
Senator Cornyn learned the value of patriotic service to our country from his father who spent 31 years in the military, beginning as a B-17 pilot in World War II. Growing up in an Air Force family and moving from base to base, Sen. Cornyn saw firsthand the sacrifices made by those who dedicate themselves to defending freedom at home and abroad.
Senator Cornyn knows our nation can never do enough to repay those who have selflessly served and sacrificed for our country. He is committed to making certain that our nation’s active duty, National Guard, and Reserve military forces receive the best training, equipment, and education, and that our veterans receive the highest-quality health care, services, and benefits they so rightly deserve.
Texas is home to almost one in every 12 U.S. service members, as well as 15 major military installations and several defense production facilities that manufacture critical military aircraft vital to sustaining American air superiority. These programs are good for Texas and good for America, providing thousands of high-paying jobs while producing the tools our military needs to dominate the modern battlefield and keep our nation safe.
Energy & Environment
"We need more energy. Government should get out of the way, let the free market work, and allow more domestic energy production. This would reduce gas prices even in the near-term, expand job opportunities in Texas — a world energy leader — and reduce our dependence on foreign oil."
-Senator John Cornyn
Senator Cornyn is an ardent proponent of maximizing Texas’ and America’s energy resource potential as a comprehensive approach for our nation. In the Senate, he has supported efforts to encourage conservation while increasing the responsible production of our domestic sources of fossil fuels, and exploring alternative sources to make our nation more energy secure.
Texas is the nation’s leading producer of oil and natural gas, and Texas refineries make up almost 30 percent of the nation’s refinery capacity. Texas is also a trailblazer in the area of renewable energy, including wind, solar, and biomass, and our state leads the nation in wind-powered electricity generation capacity. The energy industry is creating millions of American jobs and helping to fuel our economic growth. Senator Cornyn knows that the keys to supporting our robust energy sector include creating a competitive tax and policy environment, providing for a trained workforce, and ensuring sensible regulation.
Senator Cornyn supports environmental policies that ensure economic viability while protecting public health. However, he opposes efforts by federal agencies to expand their regulatory reach beyond their legal authority. Under the Obama Administration, there were numerous examples of EPA overreach and abuse of authority. Senator Cornyn fought those efforts and believes environmental regulations should be based on the best available science and risk-based standards.
Agriculture
"Agriculture is vital to the Texas economy; one in seven jobs in our state is related to the agriculture industry. We must ensure that the United States continues to enjoy the safest and most abundant food supply in the world."
-Senator John Cornyn
Texas is the leading farming and ranching state, and one in seven jobs in Texas are related to the agriculture industry. Farming and ranching are sewn into the fabric of Texas history and agriculture remains a driver of the Texas economy, and Sen. Cornyn is committed to ensuring Texas agricultural producers have a voice in the Senate.
Texas is the leading farming and ranching state, and one in seven jobs in Texas are related to the agriculture industry. Farming and ranching are sewn into the fabric of Texas history and agriculture remains a driver of the Texas economy, and Sen. Cornyn is committed to ensuring Texas agricultural producers have a voice in the Senate.
Healthcare
"When it comes to health care, Texans deserve lower costs, better coverage, and greater access. The status quo is unacceptable. Premiums have skyrocketed, coverage options have disappeared, and small businesses have struggled under crushing taxes and mandates. Texas families need more options, not less, so that they can pick the plan that's right for them."
-Senator John Cornyn
From introducing bills to lower prescription drug prices to supporting efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, I have fought in the Senate for everyday Texans worried that an unexpected hospital stay, medical bill, or charge at the pharmacy counter could put a strain on their finances or send them into bankruptcy. By taking decision-making out of the hands of Washington bureaucrats and giving it to states, doctors, and patients, Congress can provide Texans with a health care system that fits their needs.
Crime & Law Enforcement
"Fighting dangerous criminals and providing justice to victims are some of our most important commitments. I will always stand strong for our law enforcement officers, making sure they have the resources needed to keep Texas safe and secure."
-Senator John Cornyn
Sen. Cornyn knows firsthand the dedication of the men and women who protect our fellow Texans. While serving as Attorney General of Texas, the state's chief law enforcement officer, Sen. Cornyn created and backed numerous initiatives to strengthen law enforcement, including the groundbreaking Texas Exile program, which increases penalties for criminal gun use by convicted felons, and the Texas Internet Bureau, which targets child predators and human traffickers.
Senator Cornyn has taken his Texas experience to the United States Senate, advocating for issues that bolster law enforcement through his work on the Judiciary Committee. He believes that local, state, and federal authorities must work together as partners to enforce the law, and that they must be given the legal tools and funding resources necessary to do their jobs well. He believes policymakers in Washington, D.C. can learn many commonsense lessons from the successes of the Texas criminal justice system.
Click here for information on Senator Cornyn's bill, the Fix NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) Act.
Foreign Affairs & National Security
"We must always remember that our government's primary responsibility is to protect and defend the American people and advance the interests of the United States."
-Senator John Cornyn
A clear foreign policy strategy is critical as we face a growing number of threats to America’s national security. Senator Cornyn has consistently supported responsible intelligence gathering efforts and constructive diplomatic relationships with strategic partnerships around the world to ensure Texans and all Americans are safe here at home.[44]
The rising cost of health care is the number one issue I hear about from Texans on the campaign trail. Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, and that’s unacceptable. Our current system is one of sky-high costs and inefficiencies. We must create a public option to make Medicare available for all those who want it. The best health care I’ve ever had was when I was on military-provided Tricare, similar to Medicare, and I believe that kind of high-quality care should be made available to all Americans. Every child should be covered, period.
We can and must protect the progress made by the Affordable Care Act while making much-needed improvements. We cannot go back to the past when insurance companies were able to discriminate against those with preexisting conditions or sell junk plans that leave folks vulnerable when serious health issues or injuries occur.
As your senator, I will stand up for Texans against special interests who put profits over people. Far too many folks here in Texas struggle to afford their prescriptions. I will advocate for measures to lower the cost of prescription drugs like allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, I believe we must hold Big Pharma interests accountable for their part in the opioid epidemic that has ravaged so many communities here in Texas and beyond.
I will oppose any effort to privatize, dismantle or undercut Medicare, including raising the eligibility age. Medicare and Social Security are not entitlements – they are promises made to every American. I will also oppose any “age tax” insurance companies seek to impose against older Americans.
Reproductive Rights
I support federal law codifying Roe v. Wade so that reproductive rights are not subject to the whims of an increasingly partisan court system. It’s unacceptable that in 2019 a woman’s right to make medical decisions about her own body is under assault. I have had two difficult pregnancies, and I am grateful that during that time the government wasn’t standing between me and my doctor during very personal discussions. Politicians should not legislate a woman’s most intimate decisions.
Texans suffer from one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the developed world. We must support organizations that are providing our communities with sorely needed women’s health care services. I am opposed to efforts to shutter clinics that provide critical care to women all over Texas, especially in rural areas where loss of access to these clinics often means loss of health care.
We must provide support for women and families by increasing access to sex education, affordable over-the-counter contraception, and cost-effective childcare.
Immigration
For decades, career politicians have refused to fix our broken immigration system, and the consequences of their finger-pointing and inaction directly affect our day-to-day lives in Texas. We need to roll up our sleeves, collaborate with our border communities on solutions, and bring some common sense to the issue.
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 budget while seizing land from Texans, and building a path to citizenship for undocumented residents that prioritizes our security and reflects our core values as Americans — such as human dignity and our respect for the right of mankind to the pursuit of happiness.
The increasing spread of anti-immigrant, white nationalist ideology is a serious threat to our safety, as proven by the shooting in El Paso that targeted Hispanic members of our community. I took an oath to support and defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, so I want to be crystal clear: we must mobilize against this epidemic of domestic terrorism here at home. I will always stand against this type of hateful rhetoric that has real consequences, and will call on elected leaders who amplify white nationalist rhetoric and racist dog-whistles to take ownership of the impact of their words and reverse course.
Environment & Climate Change
As the mother of two little boys, climate change is one of the top reasons I decided to run for Senate. Climate change is one of the greatest threats 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.
In Texas, we are witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change. We’ve seen devastating hurricanes like Harvey, and multiple catastrophic, “500-year” floods in a matter of a few years. The status quo is not sustainable.
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.
We also must modernize our energy grid so it is equipped to handle increased load during peak usage.
Education
Every child, regardless of where they come from or how much money their family makes, should have access to an affordable and quality education. I will advocate for Texas public schools and teachers, because I believe an investment in strong public schools is an investment in our nation’s future. Teachers, educators, and school staff deserve to be treated with respect and to be paid salaries worthy of the critical service they provide to society.
Far too many Texans struggle from crippling student loan debt. We must put an end to the government profiting off loans by lowering interest rates on student debt, while also ensuring all higher education — from apprenticeship programs to vocational training to degree programs — is more affordable for current and future students. Texans I’ve spoken to have told me that the requirement for an immediate start to repayment of student loans upon graduation or disenrollment has led to underemployment. Every student loan should have a grace period of at least several months during which the loan does not accrue interest, and that period should be paused if the individual enrolls in another course of training like pursuing a certificate or vocation.
While a college degree is one avenue for achieving financial security, we also need to encourage support for and investment in vocational programs. Vocational programs expand trades sectors, which often provide secure, high-paying union jobs. Those working in these jobs have always been and will continue to be the backbone of our nation and the driving force toward improving our country’s infrastructure.
Jobs & the Economy
I believe the country and our economy are stronger when our workers and their families are strong. Growing up, my mom worked three jobs just to pay the bills, and too many Texans face the same struggles today. That’s not the American dream. We need to raise wages and work to lower the cost of housing to ensure workers can provide for their families, and use tax credits and incentives to support small businesses instead of giving tax breaks to companies that ship their jobs overseas.
My stepfather, who raised me as his own, was killed in a workplace accident. Because of the safety standards won by the labor movement, fewer families have to go through that devastation. I am grateful for the hard-fought victories of the labor movement that have created safer and fairer workplaces, and will protect that progress as a senator — I’ll always support the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain for safe and healthy working conditions, fair wages, and to secure benefits and pensions. In addition, I will fight efforts to cut pensions, Social Security, and Medicare.
I believe in the promise of our country and the American dream, and that’s why it’s important to acknowledge that the scales have shifted to favor the rich and powerful over the working families that are left to contend with obscene medical costs, high rent and bills, student loan debt, and more. I opposed the 2017 tax cuts for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and would vote against any legislation that benefits corporations and the extremely wealthy while hurting working families trying to make ends meet.
Military & Veterans
As a United States Air Force veteran who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, I understand what our military and their families go through in a way that most politicians in DC can’t. We have a responsibility to the next generation that will wear our uniform: to give them the most stable global environment we possibly can.
I will support responsible national security policies that recognize the value of seeking diplomatic solutions and employing strategic use of humanitarian assistance and trade negotiations, while insisting we reserve the deployment of American troops as a last resort. I believe a healthy State Department is our military’s first line of defense, and our relationships with our allies are fragile and critical to maintain.
In addition, I know firsthand how difficult the transition back into civilian life can be. As your senator, I will always seek to make good on our promise to our service members by ensuring they receive quality health care, housing assistance, and help starting careers or businesses as they return from serving our country. I will stand against efforts to privatize the VA while supporting initiatives to streamline services for veterans to get better care when they need it. With record-high suicide rates and deployments than can strain family relationships, it’s critical we provide adequate mental health care to address the unique struggles of those who serve.
My military service informs my view on government. When I think about my fellow soldiers who were with me the day my helicopter was shot down by the Taliban and how we worked together to complete our mission and get to safety, I think about how our government could take some cues from what we learn in the military. Unity, teamwork, and a shared mission is the only way to succeed.
Gun Violence
Multiple mass shootings have devastated Texas in recent years, and I believe it is well past time to take action to finally end the epidemic of gun violence.
We must pass common-sense gun safety legislation to require background checks on every single gun sale, including closing the gun show loophole — a proposal that a recent Washington Post-ABC News survey found was supported by 88% of gun owners.
We must also stop the sale of assault weapons to the public, pass red flag laws limiting access to firearms for domestic abusers — including closing the “boyfriend loophole” — and those who would commit acts of domestic terrorism, and fully fund the CDC to reverse the damage of the decades-long ban on gun violence research.
I am also calling for state and local officials to end open carry. The reasons gun owners like me have for wanting to protect our Second Amendment rights — chief among them protecting our families — are not served by open carry. Open carry itself is an assault on every bystander within range, as we feel the need to flee and cover our children without the freedom to call law enforcement for help. We must empower people to “see something, say something.”
The gun violence epidemic in this country reaches beyond the tragic mass shootings into our homes through domestic violence, accidental shootings, and suicides. As your senator, I will use my perspective as a mother, responsible gun owner, and combat veteran in my work to pass urgently-needed legislation to protect our communities.
Clean Government
Whenever someone tells me they don’t understand why a bill passed or decision was made in Washington, I always tell them to follow the money. That’s because far too many of our elected leaders make decisions about what legislation to support or oppose based on who is writing the biggest campaign checks — from the gun lobby to private prisons to Big Pharma — instead of what is best for their constituents.
Americans are sick and tired of watching DC politicians put special interest donors and political games over the needs of the people. It is time to clean up our broken system and return the power back to people. That’s why I am refusing to accept any corporate PAC money and am proud to be endorsed by End Citizens United.
Once elected, I will make it a priority to overturn partisan gerrymandering schemes that further polarize our politics, fight the increasingly-common voter suppression tactics designed to keep people from exercising their right to participate in our democracy, and pass comprehensive campaign finance and ethics reforms that ensure Washington is accountable to the voters — and no one else.
LGBTQ+ Rights
I want to do everything I can to lift up LGBTQ+ voices and fight for ALL Texans’ rights. I strongly support legislation, including the Equality Act, to extend and secure critical civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, public spaces and services, credit, education, and federally funded programs.
We also need to enshrine protections for the LGBTQ+ community with laws banning conversion therapy. While we’ve made strides over the years, the fact that so called “conversion therapy,” which can traumuatize and harm LGBTQ+ youth, is still legal in states like Texas is unthinkable. When I’m in the Senate, I will fight to ensure the rights of ALL Americans.
I fought in Afghanistan, and I can tell you that I didn’t care what the gender identity or sexual orientation of anyone standing beside me was — all that mattered to me was that they had my back and I had theirs. We should swiftly overturn the ban against transgender soldiers from joining the military, and put in place policies that welcome anyone of any gender identity.
I was honored to receive an endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign in 2018. I believe we need more LGBTQ+ voices in the political process, and will prioritize bringing those voices to the table to ensure legislation I write or vote for is equitable to all.
Criminal Justice Reform
We need real and sustained systemic fixes to our criminal justice and policing system.
Our criminal justice system denies fair legal representation and equitable treatment under the law to all Americans. We must pass comprehensive criminal justice reforms to combat racial and economic disparities throughout the system, including ending racial profiling and stop & frisk, and eliminating profit incentives for unfair arrests and ticketing.
We must also ensure that the outcomes of legal cases are not predicated on the legal representation people can afford or their skin color.
I support police reform solutions detailed in Campaign Zero, including ending for-profit policing practices, ensuring police departments are part of and representative of their communities, and that officers work closely with community members and organizations.
The private prison industry continues to profit from mass incarceration, the immigration crisis on our border, and historic policies of racial injustice. PACs and executives of private detention companies have contributed over $90,000 to John Cornyn’s campaign. As senator, I will work to end the federal government’s practice of contracting with for-profit detention companies.
After centuries of injustice, we have so much work to do. For too long that work has fallen on those harmed by our system — especially Black Americans. We must all step up to protect the rights of each and every American and enact the reforms needed to do it.[44]
I am an advocate of the Ecosocialist Green New Deal as proposed by Howie Hawkins in his presidential campaign. Like Jill Stein's Green New Deal, adapted from Hawkins's 2010 campaign for governor of New York, it goes further and faster than the watered-down version proposed by Democrats in Congress.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The endorsement of the Ecosocialist Green New Deal does not constitute an endorse of Howie Hawkins himself, although I have donated to his campaign. I like several of the current candidates, including Dario Hunter.
The threat posed by the Martin Luther King's triplet evils—racism, militarism, and consumer capitalism—looms even larger today than it did during MLK's lifetime. Societies and nations dominated by these triplets act as obstacles to solving the rapidly growing climate crisis. The only weapons that can defeat the triplets are love and compassion, on a massive scale, for people and our planet.
I invite you to read through the current Green Party US and Green Party of Texas platforms, as well as the Demands issued by Extinction Rebellion US. I intend to run on those principles and programs, which include (in no particular order):
Improved Medicare for All
A national initiative to recruit, train, and employ thousands of mental health care providers
Full reproductive choice for women and families
Canceling student debt and making public post-secondary schools tuition-free
A just transition from a fossil-fuel economy to a renewable-energy economy, including training and employment for all who want to work
Implementation of Approval Voting or Ranked Choice Voting in the appropriate jurisdictions, with voter-verifiable paper receipts
An immediate moratorium on new fossil-fuel infrastructure, such as pipelines and refineries
Establishing Citizens Assemblies in the various bioregions to determine, recommend, and if possible implement evidence-based solutions for local and national environmental problems
Massive immigration reform, including the end of all long-term family detentions and separations
Ending imperialist, neoliberal policies that keep the nations of the Global South in dire poverty
Subsidizing the creation of urban farms and food webs
Rooting out all forms of systemic bias from government agencies at all levels, and finally outlawing discrimination against transgender Americans in housing and employment
Financial and other reparations for Indigenous and African Americans, for the centuries of violent repression that they have endured
Closing US military bases overseas and cleaning up the messes they have left in more than 100 countries[44]
The best way to begin improving the treatment of our veterans is to work hard for peace so that someday there are no veterans- individuals who have seen the terrors of war. Our military has grown far beyond protecting our sovereign lands but policing the entire world. This isn’t acceptable to continue paying arms dealers and defense contractors when we cannot care for our veterans. Our policies must change.
Improving Immigration Reform
No reasonable person has any issue for people born outside of the USA to come to our nation finding life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Yet the key is allowing people to do this without doing so at the expense of everyone. The majority of immigrants come here to work hard and become Americans. These individuals aren’t here to takeover but to live the same dream as us all. Our nation would not be near what it is without immigrants.
Ending the Opioid Crisis
The Opioid Crisis is a direct result of our nation's failed "war" on drugs. As exemplified by positive results from other states the solution lies directly in legalization of cannabis and other non-pharmaceutical substances. This crisis has stolen so much from our families, with astronomical tax burdens and loved ones who lost their lives to substance abuse. Our Justice System is ill equipped and has only caused the crisis to worsen. The majority of our prison population are drug offenders. Our goal includes individuals being released from prison, dropping their charges, and giving them the freedom to prosper in society. The revenue of legalized cannabis and decriminalized substances would bring our state into a new era, The Green Boom.
Environmental Stewardship
Evidence is clear that mankind as a whole has made a negative impact on our planet in ways that are irreparable. Sadly, many species of wildlife and plants have become extinct never to be recovered. Regardless of any governmental intervention, this will continue until individuals take up responsibility for what is ours. The solution to our planet's environmental issues and pollution is based in private enterprises. Taxes will never solve the problem but often makes this worse. Stewardship of the less fortunate and the planet are universal beliefs across multiple religions and secular viewpoints not only for the sake of our children We must take care of our planet. There are tangible ways to gather and use resources without significant impact on our planet and its wildlife. Every individual is key in helping to protect our planet.[44]
In Texas, a primary election candidate for congressional, state, or county office must receive a majority of the vote (more than 50%) to be declared the winner. If no candidate wins the requisite majority, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters.[49]
As of 2020, the Texas Secretary of State office stated, "There is no requirement to have previously voted in the general primary election in order to participate in the subsequent primary runoff election. Therefore, if a qualified voter did not vote in the general primary election, they are still eligible to vote in the primary runoff election." The office also stated that "if a voter votes in the primary of one party, they will only be able to vote in that party’s primary runoff election. ... After being affiliated with a party, a voter is not able to change or cancel their party affiliation until the end of the calendar year."[50]
The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Texas in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Texas, click here.
Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
↑Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
↑Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 42 min
For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.
David B. Collins[edit]
Kerry McKennon[edit]
John Cornyn Incumbent
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