Texas Democrats announced today that they will be hosting a virtual Senate primary debate featuring candidates MJ Hegar and Royce West. This is the only debate scheduled, thus far, ahead of the July 14 runoff election.
In a Dallas Morning News/UT-Tyler poll from April, Hegar holds a double-digit lead over West. More than 40 percent of potential Democratic Primary voters still remain undecided.
Both candidates are looking to land the Democratic nomination against three-term incumbent GOP Senator John Cornyn.
“There is no Texas race bigger than the U.S. Senate race,” Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa issued in a statement. “MJ Hegar and Royce West represent the best of what Texas has to offer. This debate presents an opportunity for them to discuss our ideas and solutions to the challenges Texans face every single day. It will also put our nominee in the strongest possible position to defeat John Cornyn and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”
According to KXAN, the host of the June debate, the event will consist of questions from moderators, other state journalists, and viewers. Viewers can submit questions using the hashtag #txsendebate on social media and email at reportit@KXAN.com.
The debate will be held on June 6, at 6 p.m. CST.
Correction: After publication, the debate was rescheduled. It’s correct date and time have been updated here.
Photos: Royce West for U.S. Senate / MJ for Texas/
Sarah brings more than seven years of experience as a multimedia journalist to Texas Signal, where she serves as our Podcast and Video Producer, managing the company's three podcasts, including SignalCast, TexMix Podcast and Three Righteous Mamas, and assisting with copy-editing and social media as well. Sarah is also the Editor-at-Large at Brown Girl Magazine, and an avid artist, TV/film enthusiast and cook. Sarah graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Journalism, and received a Master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Houston.
