Democrats vying to beat Cornyn fire it up in debate

AUSTIN — Democrats seeking to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn brought some heat to their first televised debate on Tuesday as they seek to distinguish themselves in a crowded primary election field.

With polling indicating voters still aren’t familiar enough with the candidates to have a favorite — even with early voting underway — the 11 candidates did their best to stand out: Some bragged of their experience in politics, while others argued Texas needs a fresh face. Some argued a candidate who leans too far to the left can’t win in still-red Texas, while others said pushing progressive proposals is necessary to energize the voters Democrats need most.

At one point, Sema Hernandez, an environmental justice advocate from Pasadena, claimed that she was the only candidate on the stage who has ever smoked marijuana — a boast that went unchallenged, even as virtually every candidate agreed the drug should be legalized.

The candidates debated health care, guns and energy and environment, with some divisions showing on each. But much of the action came when the candidates turned their attention to one another.

The sparring was a departure from a race in which candidates have mostly kept their sights set squarely on Cornyn. On Tuesday night, several candidates took aim at each other — especially decorated former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar, who has raised the most money and drawn the backing of Democrats in Washington.

While the race is widely expected to go to a runoff, polling shows Hegar, whose ads have been on air for weeks, has the highest name recognition among voters, though her only experience in politics was a narrow loss to a longtime Republican congressional seat in Central Texas in 2018.

As the presumed front-runner, Hegar was a frequent target on

Tuesday.

“I respect so much your résumé and what you’ve accomplished, but the fact is that you did not beat (U.S. Rep.) John Carter. And we are not going to beat John Cornyn by playing politics as usual,” first-time candidate Annie “Mama” Garcia said to Hegar.

“I think many of us admire what MJ did in her district and race in 2018, but when we think about winning statewide and viability in 2020, we need a candidate that can speak to the rich diversity of who the Texas Democratic party is,” said Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, a longtime labor organizer from Austin.

Others went after the money Hegar has raised.

“I actually find it rich that MJ Hegar wants to address campaign finance when a PAC of hers has been putting out ads that cover nothing about issues,” said candidate Adrian Ocegueda, referring to ads run by Vote Vets, a political group that supports veteran candidates.

Hegar’s rebuttal came in her closing statement, as she looked into the camera and addressed her children.

“I know you’ve heard a lot of scary things here tonight, but I’m here to tell you that even though you’ve also heard some sniping at mommy, everybody here on this stage is going to fight to make sure that you have a bright future and a world you can live in and educational opportunities,” she said.

But others onstage were hit with jabs, too.

“Unlike Ms. Tzintzún and Ms. Hegar, I wasn’t recruited to run, I was compelled to run for U.S. Senate and I do it on my own merits,” Hernandez said.

“No Democrat can win by being far left. It’s not going to happen,” said Royce West, a longtime state senator from Dallas, taking a shot at Tzintzún. West referenced his 28 years of experience in the Texas Senate in nearly every answer he gave and said candidates need to “recognize that pragmatism must exist … and be able to bring together people to win this election.”

Tzintzún Ramirez’s response: “I know in this race people will say my plans are too ambitious for Texas, but they’ll say that with the intention of scaring you away from what’s possible.”

“I respect Sen. West’s experience, but I think everyone agrees the Texas Legislature is not the U.S. Congress,” said Chris Bell, a Houston attorney who served one term in Congress.

Whichever candidate emerges from the Democratic primary will face a Cornyn re-election campaign flush with cash. The longtime senator already has more than $12 million on hand.

“In a race that’s been called ‘sleepy,’ ‘boring’ and a ‘six-car pileup,’ it’s no wonder Texas Democrats are tuned out,” Cornyn campaign manager John Jackson said in a statement. “With ‘Undecided’ as their leading candidate, we’ll be ready for whichever Bernie Sanders clone limps out of the primary on Memorial Day.”