It appears plenty of people in Texas believe it is time to replace U.S. Senator John Cornyn. The incumbent is facing four challengers within the Republican party, a dozen Democrats and five Independents.
The North Dallas Gazette reached out to each of the Democratic Party candidates and received responses from half of the candidates seeking your vote on March 3. Below you will find in their own words, why they believe they are the right person for the job.
Early voting continues from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Feb. 28. Election Day is Tuesday, March 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 pm.
Michael Cooper
In 50 words or less, relate the knowledge, skills, or experience your candidacy
Servant Leader – I am an Automotive executive. I was the president of the Southeast Texas Automotive Dealers and secured the naming rights of the Toyota Center. I was elected as the local NAACP PRESIDENT. I AM ALSO a Pastor and Psychologist so that I can help the needs of the minority community.
Have you previously been a candidate for this or another office? Yes
If “yes,” what year(s) and what office(s)? I was a 2018 Candidate for Lt. Governor and gathered almost half a million voters. I came within 1.2 percent of winning that election with very little money.
What are your top three (3) priorities in this elective office? Better Health Care (Medicare for all), Better education system and Criminal Justice Reform.
If successful, what would you do to improve this office? Please be specific:
I work to get the 400 bills that are wasted on the senate floor passed. Work with Republicans so that we can expand Medicaid now. I would work with the other side to start working on a greener carbon footprint with our plants, while we are working towards slowing down the earthing getting hotter. When I bring more vocational trades in schools starting at the 6th grade so when they graduate, they are workforce ready and pay into the system. That will help us get Medicare for all.
How would you relate the problems/progress of this public office? Be specific:
Unlike John Cornyn, I would work. I would work on immigration reform, I just left the border and visited Matamoros. There were no judges seeing immigrants and nor will there be. I will change that.
What do citizens deserve from this public office?
Citizens deserve a person that will show up and put in the work. I have not run across anyone that knows what John Cornyn looks like. He is simply occupying an office. I challenged my opponent to speak about education and giving teachers’ pay raises in 2018. He in turn challenged Dan Patrick and Dan lied and the media caught him. He later stated his budget did not allow him to give them that big of a raise and gave them 5000 instead. If I challenged the powers that be on the outside imagine the change I can bring to the USA from a job on the inside.
How does your character, work ethic or expertise match citizen needs and expectations?
I am a servant leader. I put in all the hours and do what it takes to get the job done. I have managed people and million-dollar budgets for 30 years. I have the experience and know how to facilitate positive change in gun laws, Health care, Education and Criminal Justice Reform just to name a few points of interest.
What, if any, are your campaign promises/pledges to the electorate? Be specific:
Expand Medicaid immediately. Work towards Medicare for all. Demand Universal background checks. I would make all DREAMERS tax paying citizens. I would give teachers, custodians and librarians a pay raises immediately. I would have a group create a State wide curriculum that includes trade schools throughout Texas with access to the internet in the rural areas.
Amanda K. Edwards
In 50 words or less, relate the knowledge, skills, or experience your candidacy
As a native Texan and Houston City Council Member, I have focused on hands-on, results-oriented servant leadership aimed on empowering people to get the results they deserve. As an accomplished attorney and a grassroots servant leader I have a long history as a fierce community advocate who has delivered results.
Have you previously been a candidate for this or another office? If “yes,” what year(s) and what office(s)?
Houston City Council Member from 2016 to 2019
What are your top three (3) priorities in this elective office?
(1) Expanding healthcare access & reducing costs (2) Providing economic opportunity for all Texans (3) Improving access to education
If successful, what would you do to improve this office? Please be specific:
I would ensure my office reaches out to the community to hear their voices and to bring real solutions to their concerns. My Senate office will be open to the people. We will host town halls and keep open lines of communication. We will take the feedback we receive and respond with legislative action and appropriate constituent response.
How would you relate the problems/progress of this public office? Be specific:
John Cornyn has voted to overturn the Affordable Care Act more than half a dozen times because he does not like the president who was in office when it was passed. I would expand and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. He describes the issue of gun violence as “complex” as he then actively works to maintain an A+ rating with the NRA, despite the countless murders that take place daily. I would support sensible gun policies such as background checks and red flag policies. It is essential to communicate with the public and respond to their needs.
What do citizens deserve from this public office?
I am running for U.S. Senate to ensure that Texans get the results that they deserve. We have seen too many politicians come into our communities, over-promise, then under-deliver. We must have effective servant leaders in office with a focus on people and an ability to deliver results for them.
How does your character, work ethic or expertise match citizen needs and expectations?
I understand that my character, work ethic and expertise match what citizens are looking for in a servant leader. I will not allow my integrity to be compromised. Simply put, I tell the truth; I say what I mean and do what I say. I also understand that the people are my bosses, and I should be accountable to them at all times. I work tirelessly around the clock because the needs of the community are, in fact, urgent. I keep an open line of communication and am as present as I can possibly be to keep my finger on the pulse of the communities needs and views. Finally, and most important, I deliver results that people deserve.
What, if any, are your campaign promises/pledges to the electorate? Be specific:
I am running on a platform to provide real results for Texas families. First of all, I want to expand and strengthen the Affordable Care Act by adding a public option and reducing premium costs. I would also want to reduce the price of prescription drugs. We also need to ensure Texas keeps up with the global economic and technological revolution by investing in our public schools, making higher education accessible, providing for more broadband internet connectivity and creating more sustainable wage jobs with benefits for areas that have faced downturn, among other things.
Jack Foster, Jr.
In 50 words or less, relate the knowledge, skills, or experience of your candidacy.
My life, passions, and prayer have led me to believe the best chance we have as Texans and Americans is to create an environment that create incentives, not “good- intentions”, that move people to action in their communities- Public Controlled Capitalism.
Have you previously been a candidate for this or another office?
Yes, I ran for County Judge in Chambers County in 2018 and lost. My county is 76% Republican, like most rural counties, but that does not deter me; I have an economic model that will work for all people, so I refuse to give up.
What are your top three (3) priorities in this elective office?
My top three priorities are federal skill fund legislation for all 3,142 counties in the United States, work with the IRS to raise “exclusionary income” to $50,000- for investment in communities for skilled vocational trades, and pressuring our state to move ahead of the federal skills fund legislation and create our own skills funds in each of our 254 counties.
If successful, what will you do to improve this office?
I will be more accessible because I will not be sidelined in Washington; I am coming back to our state and promoting my economic model to all 254 counties, pressuring the state legislature, Governor Abbott, and Lt. Governor Patrick, both which will be running for re-election and others like Ken Paxton.
How would you relate the problems/progress of this public office? Be specific:
The majority of our problems/lack of progress is directly impacted by a “silent senator”- education, healthcare, and retirement. A senator has the ability to impress upon all 254 counties and elected officials a direction that will bring us all together in a common cause. The platform will be instrumental in transforming Texas.
What do citizens deserve from this office?
Citizens deserve a senator in this office who will cast a bold vision for participating in “bottom-line” living. I mean incentivize homeowners and property owners to invest in their local citizenry for skilled vocational trades-giving everyone, advantaged or disadvantaged, opportunities. I am talking about my Public Controlled Capitalism for all 254 counties that will force capitulation upon the other 2,888 counties in the United States.
How does your character, work ethic or expertise match citizen needs and expectations?
I believe my character, work ethic, and expertise match citizen needs and expectations because I am a regular guy who just wants our state and country to focus on what matters, our lives- education, healthcare, and retirement. I have an economic model, which can be improved upon, which gives us all hope for a new future. Everyone has to be included and when this happens, the transformation will begin for Texas.
What if any, are your campaign promises/ pledges to the electorate?
I have made no promises/pledges, I have been promoting my economic model, The Cycle of Return-Incentives for Texas Counties, because this is what our state and country need, to believe again. Investing in communities, so both advantaged and disadvantaged citizens can supply “each other’s lack”.
Victor Hugo Harris
In 50 words or less, relate the knowledge, skills, or experience your candidacy
As a military officer of 34 years I have executed foreign policy under six administrations, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Central America, and Korea with combat tours in three distinct combat theaters. Formal education in governance issues.
Have you previously been a candidate for this or another office? No
If “yes,” what year(s) and what office(s)?
What are your top three (3) priorities in this elective office?
- Immigration and border security reform. We don’t need an open border, or a closed border. We need a controlled border so that we can more readily process immigrants into our economy.
- Citizen welfare (social program reform such as healthcare, education, welfare, UBI). We need to clean up the patch work of social programs that support our citizens.
- Gun Violence, start with mental health support from grade school to high school in order to build resiliency to adulthood.
If successful, what would you do to improve this office? Please be specific:
Prioritize people over corporations
How would you relate the problems/progress of this public office? Be specific: No response provided.
What do citizens deserve from this public office? True and honest representation for citizens and not special interests
How does your character, work ethic or expertise match citizen needs and expectations? I have served this country for 34 years, I have always taken care of my charges. I have ensured that they were taken care of and had the right equipment right and tools to succeed. We need to do the same for our citizens.
What, if any, are your campaign promises/pledges to the electorate? Be specific: I’m a multitasker. If it’s on my web page as a topic then it is a task to accomplish.
- Healthcare
- Gun Ownership/Violence
- Paying for new programs, taxes, and UBI
- Education
- Criminal Justice
- Climate Change
- Reproductive Rights
- Promoting Opportunity and Equality
- Military and Veteran Issues
- Immigration/Border Security
Also, how about we get representation for our citizens in DC, maybe not state status but at least a representative in the house that will be allowed to vote.
Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez
In 50 words or less, relate the knowledge, skills, or experience your candidacy.
I have founded and led two of Texas’ largest and most important voting and civil rights organizations, the Workers Defense Project and Jolt. My work helped pass over a dozen state and local laws for workers and has helped register tens of thousands of voters in our state.
Have you previously been a candidate for this or another office? If “yes,” what year(s) and what office(s)? No
What are your top three (3) priorities in this elective office?
I think that the top three challenges we face are achieving universal health care, building for a strong economy where everyone has opportunities, and addressing the climate crisis. On 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 believe we have to focus on how everyday Texans are doing. 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. Lastly, I support a Green New Deal because I know that as Texans, we will lead the way towards a green future. 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.
If successful, what would you do to improve this office? Please be specific:
If we truly want to make a change on every single issue we care about, then we must change the rules that govern our democracy to make sure it is working in the interests of the American people– not just big corporations and the wealthy. My top priority will be to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act and make election day a national federal holiday so everyone can participate easily and equally in our democracy. In addition, I support a federal opt-out automatic voter registration program and will oppose any legislation that aims to limit our rights to vote and undercount marginalized communities in the census.
How would you relate the problems/progress of this public office? Be specific: No answer provided.
What do citizens deserve from this public office?
Texas deserves a Senator and a government that represents actual working Texans, and to replace John Cornyn we need someone who can mobilize a broad coalition of people to win. I have spent the past decade and a half leading organizations dedicated to improving the lives of working people in this state, so not only do I know what working Texans go through, but I have proven experience mobilizing Texans across the state.
How does your character, work ethic or expertise match citizen needs and expectations?
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.
What, if any, are your campaign promises/pledges to the electorate? Be specific:
I believe that no state has more to lose or gain than Texas on the issues that matter the most– on healthcare, where our state has the highest rate of people without insurance; on climate change, where our state has already been devastated by extreme weather but also has some of the best clean energy potential; and on the economy, where Texans’ minimum wage has not gone up in a decade. A state of 29 million people deserves a Senator that not only knows that they go through, but that will position Texas to be a leader in tackling some of the toughest issues our state and country faces to make everyone’s lives better.
Royce West
In 50 words or less, relate the knowledge, skills, or experience your candidacy
I have had the honor of serving the people of the 23rd Senate District in the Texas Legislature, where I have developed a solid reputation for building coalitions to not only pass legislation that helps Texans, but to keep legislation that would hurt them from passing. I want your support to bring my ideas and work ethic to the US Senate, to create a better future for all Texans.
Have you previously been a candidate for this or another office?
If “yes,” what year(s) and what office(s)? State Senator, 23rd District of Texas, 1993-Present
What are your top three (3) priorities in this elective office?
Healthcare reform, including protecting people from denial based on pre-existing conditions, Criminal Justice Reform, passing common sense gun safety regulations
If successful, what would you do to improve this office? Please be specific:
Make it more responsive to the people of Texas. John Cornyn cares only about satisfying Donald Trump and I care only about working hard for Texas.
How would you relate the problems/progress of this public office? Be specific:
Primary, through social media which allows me to communicate directly with my constituents.
What do citizens deserve from this public office?
Good government that works to make their lives better.
How does your character, work ethic or expertise match citizen needs and expectations?
I have a proven history of doing just that. I have represented the same people for 27 years and they support me because they know they can depend on me. That’s what I’m offering the people of Texas.
What, if any, are your campaign promises/pledges to the electorate? Be specific:
I’m going to fix health care and we’re going to make sure that it’s the right of all Americans to it.
No responses received
The following candidates were sent multiple emails offering them an opportunity to complete the survey to share with our readers. However, no response was received from
- Chris Bell
- Annie “Mamá” Garcia
- Mary “MJ” Hegar
- Sema Hernandez
- R. Hunter
- Adrian Ocegueda
