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You are here: Home / Archives for TX-Sen

Cornyn Didn’t ‘Graduate’ from Oxford as Claimed

October 30, 2020 at 11:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who currently finds himself in an unusually competitive race against MJ Hegar (D), previously falsely represented himself as a graduate of Oxford University in England in the run-up to his successful election to the Texas Supreme Court, Salon reports.

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Democratic Super PAC Boosts Hegar In Texas

October 15, 2020 at 11:43 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Senate Majority PAC, the top Democratic super PAC in U.S. Senate races, is launching a major late investment in Texas, spending $8.6 million on TV ads supporting MJ Hegar’s (D) bid to oust Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the Texas Tribune reports.

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Democratic Senate Candidate Voted Against Obama Twice

October 7, 2020 at 1:09 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

MJ Hegar, the former Air Force pilot running as a Democrat against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), told the Houston Chronicle that she voted for Republican presidential nominees John McCain and Mitt Romney in 2008 and 2012.

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Texas Senate Race Is On

July 16, 2020 at 7:33 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) wasted no time in trying to label challenger MJ Hegar (D) as a political lightweight who takes her clues from “liberal superstars Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Warren,” the Dallas Morning News reports.

But Hegar fired back, calling Cornyn “a lackey and a spineless bootlicker” for President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Said Hegar: “He in the primary tried to tell people I was too far right. Now, he’s trying to tell people I’m too far left — and the poor guy can’t decide which messaging to go with.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Senate Democrats Endorse MJ Hegar In Texas

December 16, 2019 at 11:20 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is endorsing MJ Hegar in the crowded primary to challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the Texas Tribune reports.

“Hegar, the former Air Force helicopter pilot and 2018 congressional candidate, entered the primary in April and has emerged as the top fundraiser. But polls show the race remains wide open as Democrats look to pick up where they left off from Beto O’Rourke’s near-miss 2018 loss to the state’s junior senator, Ted Cruz.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Poll Shows Beto O’Rourke Competitive In Senate Race

December 3, 2019 at 12:10 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Dallas Morning News: “The poll also shows him in a near-tie, trailing Sen. John Cornyn 46% to 42% at this point, which is far stronger than others already seeking the nomination.”

“O’Rourke’s campaign operation has gone dormant. He didn’t respond to messages on Monday and hasn’t said lately whether he’s interested… During his presidential campaign, O’Rourke said flatly and repeatedly that he would not even consider running for the Senate in 2020.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: Beto O'Rourke, TX-Sen

O’Rourke Says He Will Not Run for Senate

August 15, 2019 at 11:10 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) told MSNBC that host he will not be running for the Senate.

Sad O’Rourke: “I will not in any scenario run for the United States Senate. I’m running for president. I’m running for this country. I’m taking this fight directly to Donald Trump and that is what I am exclusively focused on doing right now.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

A Plea for Beto to ‘Come Home’

August 12, 2019 at 4:42 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A Houston Chronicle editorial says we saw the real Beto O’Rourke after the El Paso mass shooting last week.

“Frankly, it’s made us wish O’Rourke would shift gears, and rather than unpause his presidential campaign, we’d like to see him take a new direction.”

“So Beto, if you’re listening: Come home. Drop out of the race for president and come back to Texas to run for senator. The chances of winning the race you’re in now are vanishingly small. And Texas needs you.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Candidate Wants to Use Campaign Funds for Childcare

June 17, 2019 at 1:31 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“MJ Hegar, candidate for U.S. Senate and mother of two young kids, has asked the Federal Election Commission for approval to spend campaign donations on child care as she seeks to oust Sen. John Cornyn,” the Dallas Morning News reports.

“Cornyn weighed in Friday with the commission — offering his ‘full support.'”

Filed Under: Campaign Finance Tagged With: TX-Sen

Can Democrats Win a Senate Seat in Texas?

May 31, 2019 at 2:29 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

For members: The new edition of Inside Elections.

This edition includes a deep dive into the Texas Senate race, where Democrats are hoping Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 performance was a new floor instead of the ceiling as they take on John Cornyn.

The issue also includes analysis of California’s 48th District (where Republicans are trying to retake some suburban territory), a dissection of a peculiar TV ad in a North Carolina special election, and a conversation with one of the Democrats running against Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO).

If you’re not yet a member, sign up for an annual or monthly membership for instant access and many more benefits.

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign, Members Tagged With: TX-Sen

Castro Won’t Run for Senate In Texas

May 1, 2019 at 4:24 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) “has decided not to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. John Cornyn, choosing instead to continue pursuing a fast-rising career in Congress focusing on security and border issues,” the San Antonio Express-News reports.

“Castro’s decision could pave the way for a contest in 2020 between Cornyn and Mary Jennings ‘MJ’ Hegar, an Afghanistan war veteran who ran a strong but losing race for Congress last year and who declared her candidacy last week.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Hegar Launches Challenge to Cornyn

April 24, 2019 at 11:31 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“MJ Hegar, an Air Force veteran whose viral campaign ads nearly helped her get elected in one of Texas’ most Republican-friendly congressional districts last year, set her sights higher on Tuesday and launched a run for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent John Cornyn,” the AP reports.

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Democrats Mobilize to Unseat John Cornyn

April 5, 2019 at 10:51 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Texas Tribune: “Emboldened after their gains in 2018 — including the closer-than-expected Senate race — the state party is establishing a ‘Cornyn War Room’ to ‘define Cornyn before he defines himself,’ according to a memo. It is unlike anything the party has done in recent history surrounding a U.S. Senate race, and it reflects the urgency with which Texas Democrats are approaching a potentially pivotal election cycle.”

Cornyn responded to the initiative saying he hopes Democrats “spend every last penny they get from their out-of-state puppet masters.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: John Cornyn, TX-Sen

How Cornyn Will Attack Castro In Senate Fight

March 19, 2019 at 7:47 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Cornyn’s team plans to focus on votes Castro took against bills providing aid for Texans impacted by Hurricane Harvey — at times separating Castro from other Texas Democrats.”

“It also highlights places where the San Antonio Democrat, who hasn’t faced a Republican challenger since 2014, sided with the liberal wing of his party on issues such as immigration and the environment.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Castro Will Likely Challenge Cornyn

March 15, 2019 at 6:21 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) is “all but certain” to enter next year’s race for U.S. Senate and take on incumbent Republican John Cornyn, Texas Monthly reports.

“The move would profoundly change the dynamics of the 2020 campaign and put Texas squarely on center stage, with two Texans already in the Democratic primary race and Joaquin taking on a longtime Republican senator who many see as vulnerable, especially during a presidential election year.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

Beto O’Rourke Looks Likely to Run for President

February 27, 2019 at 5:33 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Beto O’Rourke has decided not to run for Senate next year against Republican incumbent John Cornyn and likely will announce a campaign for president soon,” confidants close to the former congressman told the Dallas Morning News.

“Numerous people close to O’Rourke said they expect him to announce his presidential campaign within weeks. For his own part, O’Rourke on Wednesday wouldn’t reveal his future political plans except to say he has made up his mind.”

Said O’Rourke: “Amy and I have made a decision about how we can best serve our country. We are excited to share it with everyone soon.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: Beto O'Rourke, TX-Sen

O’Rourke Would Have a Tougher Battle Against Cornyn

February 27, 2019 at 8:53 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Quinnipiac poll in Texas finds Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-TX) approval rate at 43% to 26%, putting his net approval at +17.

First Read: “One person who’s probably paying attention to those numbers? Beto O’Rourke (D), who’s being encouraged to run for either president of the United States or to run against Cornyn in 2020.”

“Cornyn is less well known than Ted Cruz (R-TX), who just barely beat O’Rourke in November. (About 31 percent of Texans don’t have an opinion of Cornyn, while only nine percent say the same for Cruz.) But Cruz’s negatives — at 40% disapproval — are significantly higher than Cornyn’s, putting his net approval rating at +11.”

“All of that paints a picture of a much trickier race for O’Rourke over Cornyn than his recent attempt to take on one of the Senate’s most polarizing members.”

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

O’Rourke Would Be Competitive Against Cornyn

February 16, 2019 at 7:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Texas finds Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) just ahead of possible challenger Beto O’Rourke (D) in a U.S. Senate race, 47% to 45% with 8% of registered voters undecided.

Filed Under: 2020 Campaign Tagged With: TX-Sen

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

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