Texas 2020 Elections

State Sen. Royce West won't vote for fellow Democrat MJ Hegar, accuses her of having "a problem all along with Black folks"

West made the comments Friday to the Austin American-Statesman after his lack of support for Hegar came up at her first debate with Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

By Patrick Svitek

Oct. 9, 202010 PM Central

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State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, reportedly does not plan to vote for MJ Hegar, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate who beat him in the primary runoff, saying she is "crazy" and has "had a problem all along with Black folks."

West made the comments Friday to the Austin American-Statesman after his lack of support for Hegar came up at her first debate with Republican incumbent John Cornyn. During the debate, moderators asked Hegar about a recent comment from West in which he said she "has not called me to ask for my support."

"She has never reached out and it is what is with her and I’m not voting for her, I’m not voting in that race," West told the Statesman.

Voting in Texas

When was the last day to register to vote?

The deadline to register to vote in the 2020 general election was Oct. 5. Check if you’re registered to vote here. If not, you’ll need to fill out and submit an application, which you can request here or download here.
When can I vote early?

Early voting for the 2020 general election runs from Oct. 13 to Oct. 30. Voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county where they are registered to vote during early voting. Election Day is Nov. 3.
How will voting be different because of the pandemic?

In general, polling locations will have guidelines in place for social distancing and regular cleaning. Several counties will offer ballot marking devices so voters avoid contact with election equipment. Poll workers will likely be wearing face masks and other protective equipment, but masks will not be required for voters.
How do I know if I qualify to vote by mail?

Texas is one of just a few states that hasn’t opened up mail-in voting to any voter concerned about getting COVID-19 at a polling place. You can find eligibility requirements and review other questions about voting by mail here.
Are polling locations the same on Election Day as they are during early voting?

Not always. You’ll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. Additionally, you can confirm with your county elections office whether Election Day voting is restricted to locations in your designated precinct or if you can cast a ballot at any polling place.
Can I still vote if I have COVID-19?

Yes. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms, consider requesting an emergency mail-in ballot or using curbside voting. Contact your county elections office for more details about both options.
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Hegar's camp chalked the comment from her primary opponent up to sour grapes in a statement Friday night.

"MJ respects Senator West, they went through a spirited race and sometimes that leaves hard feelings," said Hegar spokesperson Amanda Sherman. "MJ is working hard everyday to earn the vote of every Texan, and in the US Senate she will work hand-in-hand with Senator West to advance the shared values and solve problems for Texas families."

At the debate, Hegar said she hadn't reached out to West because it was not her style to seek such endorsements.

"Personal endorsements tend to come with quid pro quo that I believe are a big part of what's broken in politics," Hegar said. She added that she believes "Sen. West is supporting me, because I know that we’re on the same page and we share so many of the same values."

Hegar defeated West by 4 percentage points in the July runoff, an impressive showing by the state senator given Hegar's large fundraising advantage and national Democratic backing. The runoff turned especially sour in the final two weeks, when West assailed Hegar's Democratic credentials and she suggested he was corrupt.

Since the runoff, Hegar has handled questions about West by saying they have had many conversations throughout the race about the importance of beating Cornyn, a line she repeated at the debate. But at the same time, she has not detailed any specific effort to gain his support.

To be sure, Hegar's campaign is making a serious effort to court Black voters. On Thursday, she announced a seven-figure Black voter outreach campaign across radio, newspapers, mail and digital.

"We’re talking about voters who have been taken for granted and sold out and had broken promises so many times, so you can’t go into communities and say, I’m just assuming you’re going to support me or, here are some promises," Hegar said during the debate when asked about Black voters. "You have to go and talk to people and earn their vote, and work with them, and not just talk to, but hear from them."

While West is not backing Hegar, the third-place primary finisher, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, has endorsed Hegar as the nominee. Tzintzún Ramirez previously supported West in the runoff.

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Voting in Texas

When was the last day to register to vote?

When can I vote early?

How will voting be different because of the pandemic?

How do I know if I qualify to vote by mail?

Are polling locations the same on Election Day as they are during early voting?

Can I still vote if I have COVID-19?

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Patrick Svitek

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