Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas TribuneWednesday’s biggest developmentsTexas Republicans thwarted Democrats' ambitions for Texas House, other key races[5 a.m.] Texas Democrats underperformed the high expectations they had set for themselves on Election Day, most notably in a hotly contested battle for dominance in the Texas House. Donald Trump carried Texas on Tuesday, though his reelection was still uncertain Wednesday morning. Republican John Cornyn handily won reelection to his seat in the U.S. Senate, soaring past combat veteran MJ Hegar to notch a victory. Republicans held big leads in other statewide races for Railroad Commission, Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals. — Alex SamuelsJohn Cornyn fended off MJ Hegar to retain U.S. Senate seat[5 a.m.] U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, defeated Democratic challenger MJ Hegar on Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, visited College Station on Oct. 28, 2020, as part of his statewide bus tour. Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas TribuneU.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has defeated Democratic challenger MJ Hegar. Hegar called Cornyn and conceded within minutes of the race being called, according to both campaigns. State Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Frisco, opted against challenging Cornyn after a short flirtation, and Cornyn easily dispatched four primary opponents in March. The Cornyn campaign seized on the bombshell, cutting ads highlighting West’s comments.

HOUSTON – Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has won reelection in Texas, according to a projection by NBC News. The Senate race in Texas has a former candidate for the U.S. House vying for a seat that has been held by the incumbent for 18 years. Cornyn won his seat in 2002 and is facing military veteran MJ Hegar as his Democratic challenger. Hegar issued the following statement after her defeat:“I’m not a career politician, running for U.S. Senate was never my plan. I am confident that the work we did will move our state forward for years to come.”You can follow live results for this race below.

The former astronaut defeated Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who was appointed to the seat after McCain’s death in 2018. Daines’ first election in 2014 broke a Democratic lock on the Senate seat that had lasted more than 100 years. The six-term congressman from northern New Mexico defeated Republican Mark Ronchetti, a former television meteorologist, and Libertarian Bob Walsh. Reed cruised to victory over Waters, an investment consultant who mounted earlier unsuccessful campaigns for state Senate and U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. Warner defeated Republican challenger Daniel Gade in a low-key race in which the incumbent had a massive cash advantage.

Houston Newsmakers: Cornyn confident but not comfortablePublished: November 1, 2020, 2:03 pmHis lead in the polls against opponent MJ Hegar is between 5 & 10 percentage points, depending on which poll you look at, but Senator John Cornyn (R) is not breathing easier.

His lead in the polls against opponent MJ Hegar is between 5 & 10 percentage points, depending on which poll you look at, but Senator John Cornyn (R) is not breathing easier. “If you run for political office and you feel comfortable before an election, you’re doing something wrong,” he said. On this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall, Senator Cornyn offers up thoughts on a number of issues. Watch Houston Newsmakers Sundays at 10:30am. Senator John Cornyn (R), Texas· Website: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/· Twitter: @johncornynCarroll Robinson, ESQ, Professor, Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, Texas Southern University Founder· Website: https://bit.ly/31NPoey· Twitter: @TexasSouthernPaul Simpson, Former Harris County GOP Chair,· Contact: https://bit.ly/2JcmUVf· Twitter: @mcginnislaw

HOUSTON – MJ Hegar knew it would be an uphill battle to unseat Senator John Cornyn. But Hegar says the polls don’t tell the true story, and that Democrats have been working hard to help her be competitive. She says the site is designed to help those dealing with life-changing negative news to look forward to a positive outcome. It should happen year round that we’re having these conversations so that we’re aware of what’s happening in our bodies," she said. See Newsmakers EXTRA on the breast cancer journey of Lyndsay Levingston ChristianWatch Houston Newsmakers Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m.:More Information:

Democrat MJ Hegar and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, debated Oct. 9 at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. Money is how you do those things, especially in the expansive mediaverse of Texas — a state notorious for the expense of running effective advertising campaigns. Early money is coveted by campaigns because it lets them start their campaigns earlier, before the noise level is so high. The U.S. Senate race in Texas is a test of sorts. Cornyn has run six, starting in 1990: three for U.S. Senate (not including the current race), one for Texas attorney general and two for the Texas Supreme Court.

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate MJ Hegar at a debate in Austin this month. MJ Hegar, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, is keeping up her fundraising momentum as the race nears its end, according to the candidates' latest campaign finance reports. Hegar outraised Republican incumbent John Cornyn by nearly 3-to-1 in the first two weeks of October, $3.7 million to $1.3 million. Their spending was less lopsided during the 14-day period, with Cornyn unloading $5.6 million and Hegar $5.3 million. Two national Democratic super PACs are pouring at least $12.5 million into the contest, and Hegar has been outspending Cornyn on TV for weeks.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and challenger MJ Hegar faced off in a debate on Oct. 9at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. His once-staggering cash-on-hand advantage — 16-to-1 earlier this year — is gone, he is confronting a late surge in outside Democratic spending and his challenger, MJ Hegar, has been outspending him on TV for a month. Neither Cornyn nor Hegar has released numbers in advance, though Hegar is expected to have raised multiple millions of dollars in the short period. During the most recent week, Hegar's campaign benefited from joint TV spending with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, while the Cornyn campaign's TV buys have been boosted by the state Republican Party. Last week, the top Democratic super PAC in Senate races, Senate Majority PAC, announced it was plunging into the contest with an $8.6 million TV ad buy against Cornyn.

MJ Hegar and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, faced off in a debate last week. Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Courtesy Nexstar Media GroupMJ Hegar, the Democrat running against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, nearly doubled his fundraising over the past three months and has eliminated his long-running cash-on-hand advantage. That's according to the third-quarter report that Hegar filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission, as well as figures provided by Cornyn's campaign. While Cornyn declined to release release his numbers until Thursday, he had admitted she soundly outraised him for the period and "basically wiped out our cash advantage." During the most recent quarter, Hegar reported spending $6.4 million.

Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneSenate 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 bid to oust Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. "John Cornyn is a fraud who sold us out.”Separate from the TV buy, Senate Majority PAC is also planning digital advertising in the race's home stretch. Both Cornyn's campaign and a supportive super PAC have gone on TV in recent days attacking Hegar for the first time. Senate Majority PAC also invested in the 2018 Senate race in Texas, when Beto O'Rourke came within 3 percentage points of beating Cruz. After the election, it was revealed that Senate Majority PAC funded a pop-up super PAC that spent $2.3 million on an 11th-hour ad blitz against Cruz.

(Bob Daemmrich/Nexstar/KXAN via AP, Pool)WASHINGTON – Buoyed by massive fundraising success, Democratic Senate candidates are mounting a push in Republican states that few would have thought possible just a few months ago, placing continued GOP control of the chamber at risk. MJ Hegar in Texas reported raising over $13 million during the same period for her race against Republican Sen. John Cornyn. In deep-red Kentucky, Amy McGrath has posted strong fundraising numbers against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In Mississippi, Mike Espy reported raising $4 million in his rematch against Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. O'Rourke was criticized for being too stingy with his cash, only reluctantly aiding other Democrats, though he eventually donated large amounts to the Texas Democratic Party.

Sen. Royce West, D-Texas, and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar. "MJ respects Senator West, they went through a spirited race and sometimes that leaves hard feelings," said Hegar spokesperson Amanda Sherman. At the debate, Hegar said she hadn't reached out to West because it was not her style to seek such endorsements. To be sure, Hegar's campaign is making a serious effort to court Black voters. While West is not backing Hegar, the third-place primary finisher, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, has endorsed Hegar as the nominee.

Democratic challenger MJ Hegar and Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn face off in a Nexstar televised debate Friday night at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and his Democratic opponent, MJ Hegar, butted heads Friday evening in a debate over a host of timely issues — the coronavirus pandemic, race and policing, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He argued "respect is on the ballot" — respect for Medicare recipients, energy workers and law enforcement officials who he said would be hurt by national Democratic policies. But they also elaborated on some ancillary issues, including court packing and term limits for Supreme Court justices. Also on court reform, Hegar has advocated for term limits for Supreme Court justices.

Credit: The Texas TribuneU.S. Sen. John Cornyn leads Democratic challenger MJ Hegar by 8 percentage points in his reelection bid, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. The poll found 50% of likely voters in Texas prefer the Republican incumbent, while 42% favor Hegar. In the state’s presidential race, where President Donald Trump is leading former Vice President Joe Biden 50%-45%, there is a marked gender gap: Men favor Trump by 16 percentage points, while women favor Biden by 5 percentage points. In the Senate race, however, the gap barely exists: Men favor Cornyn by 8 percentage points, and women favor Cornyn by 4 percentage points. What’s more, 24% of Texas voters, even after the years of seeing his name on the ballot, don’t report having any real impression of him.

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate MJ Hegar addresses supporters at a March rally in Austin. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneMJ Hegar, the Democratic challenger to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced Wednesday that she raised over $13.5 million in the third quarter, a massive improvement over her previous hauls. The $13.5 million is nearly eight times more than what she raised during her previous best quarter. The fundraising bonanza left Hegar with over $8 million cash on hand at the end of this month, her campaign said. The third quarter saw Hegar win her party’s nomination for U.S. Senate in a July 14 primary runoff against state Sen. Royce West of Dallas.

MJ Hegar’s Senate race this year illustrates the problem challengers face here. From that national perspective, the prize in a Senate race is the same, no matter where you win. By luck and design, he financed his statewide campaign without having to get the attention of the people in those national political strategy sessions in Washington. The Democrats won two congressional seats held by Republicans, and picked up a couple of seats in the Texas Senate and a dozen in the Texas House. Was the 2018 election in Texas — with its high turnout and close races — the result of a spectacular and expensive competition for Senate?

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneEven before a pandemic struck, protests over racial justice took to the streets and a vacancy opened on the U.S. Supreme Court, this year’s U.S. Senate race was poised to be different from the last one in Texas. But in any case, it is a dynamic destined to shape the final several weeks of the top statewide race after the presidential contest. Underscoring the mutually embraced contrast, Hegar shot back in an interview: “I don’t know how much more Texas can survive John Cornyn’s experience. Throughout the pandemic, Cornyn has remained generally aligned with the leader of the state’s response, Gov. A total of 4.6 million people participated in the 2014 Senate election, and Cornyn said he likely will have to garner more votes than that alone this fall to win a fourth term.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and his Democratic challenger, MJ Hegar, will debate on Oct. 9. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. and Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneU.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and his Democratic challenger, MJ Hegar, are set for their first debate, though Hegar wants more and Cornyn has said he is open to additional debates. Nexstar Broadcasting announced Tuesday morning that it would host the first debate Oct. 9 in Austin and broadcast it live on 15 stations across the state. Hegar, though, used the announcement of the first debate to say she wants three total, each "televised statewide." Cornyn said in an interview this month that he would debate Hegar "at least once, and I'm happy to do more." "Senator Cornyn has agreed to debate MJ Hegar, and we look forward to considering other opportunities," the spokesperson, Travis Considine, said.

Don’t measure the political color of Texas by the wins and losses at the top of the ballot this year. Examples are everywhere: Democrats have won congressional and legislative seats even as the Republicans have swept every statewide election since 1994. The state remained red in 2018, but Texas Democrats increased their congressional and legislative numbers. If the race for U.S. Senate in Texas isn’t really in play, is Texas really in play? The Texas Democrats running for the U.S. House, on the other hand, are ahead.

Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneThe Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced Tuesday that it will spend at least $1 million to help MJ Hegar in her challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The announcement comes after the DSCC commissioned a poll that found Cornyn and Hegar in a tight race. The DSCC said its polling, conducted late last month, found Cornyn barely leading Hegar among likely voters, 43% to 42%, with 15% undecided. The DSCC investment is much-needed financial aid for Hegar, who entered the general election with a large cash-on-hand deficit against Cornyn. She had less than $1 million in reserves at the end of June, while Cornyn had $14.5 million.

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan talked on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall about the district’s decision, why it was made and the plans to resume in-person teaching. Lathan acknowledged that in-person teaching is the most effective way to educate our children but points to several factors that call for virtual teaching. While only 14% of HISD teachers say they are ready to return to the classroom for in-person teaching. HISD is also working to assist parents with students that need technology for virtual learning. M.J. Hegar beat State Senator Royce West for the right to face Senator Cornyn.

MJ Hegar was holding a single-digit lead over Royce West on Tuesday night in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. Senate, according to unofficial results. Hegar is the former Air Force helicopter pilot endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, while West is the longtime state senator from Dallas. West sharply questioned Hegar's allegiance to the Democratic Party, while she implied West, a wealthy lawyer, has enriched himself in office. West also aired TV ads in the runoff's closing days, but Hegar's side maintained a staggering advantage on the air. By one count published Tuesday morning, Hegar's campaign and its allies outspent West $102 to $1 on TV and radio advertising.

State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and MJ Hegar are vying to be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican John Cornyn in November. Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson and Eddie Gaspar for The Texas TribuneMJ Hegar was holding a single-digit lead over Royce West on Tuesday night in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. Senate, according to unofficial results. Hegar is the former Air Force helicopter pilot endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, while West is the longtime state senator from Dallas. West sharply questioned Hegar's allegiance to the Democratic Party, while she implied West, a wealthy lawyer, has enriched himself in office. By one count published Tuesday morning, Hegar's campaign and its allies outspent West $102 to $1 on TV and radio advertising.

Texans will be voting in the middle of a pandemic on Tuesday in a runoff election originally scheduled for May. The wild card: Robert MorrowFor Republicans in Texas, Robert Morrow advancing to the GOP primary runoff for a seat on the State Board of Education was nothing short of frightening. The winner in the GOP runoff Tuesday will face Texas State University English professor Rebecca Bell-Metereau, a Democrat, in Novembers general election. When he issued a statewide mask mandate, Abbott excluded churches and people voting in the primary runoff elections. Disclosure: Texas State University and the Texas secretary of state have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

Texas has become one of the world's virus hot zones and is in far worse shape now than when the runoff was postponed in March. Last week was the deadliest of the pandemic for Texas, and Republican Gov. Abbott did not include polling places in his recent statewide mask order, and unlike many states, Texas has fought efforts to expand mail-in balloting during the pandemic. The Senate runoff is between Air Force veteran MJ Hegar, who narrowly lost a race for a House seat in 2018, and state Sen. Royce West, who if he wins would become Texas' first Black U.S. senator. For now, both remain underdogs against Cornyn, a three-term Senate veteran who has a hefty stockpile of campaign dollars.

Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, during a Senate Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on June 23, 2020. Rod Lamkey/CNP via REUTERSU.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has $14.5 million saved up for his reelection bid after raising $3.5 million in the second quarter of 2020, his campaign announced Monday. The figures come a day before a Democratic primary runoff will settle who faces Cornyn in November: MJ Hegar, the Air Force veteran backed by national Democrats, or Royce West, the longtime state senator from Dallas. Cornyn has regularly stayed ahead of his Democratic challengers in the money race as they have had to focus on their protracted nominating process. On their pre-runoff campaign finance reports covering all but the last several days of the second quarter Hegar reported raising $1.6 million and having $1.6 million cash on hand, while West said he took in $430,000 and had $160,000 in reserves.

HOUSTON Texas will hold its 2020 primary runoff election on July 14. Air Force veteran MJ Hegar and Texas State Sen. Royce West, both Democrats, are squaring off for their partys ticket in November against incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn. Heres what to know about the candidates and their stance on the big issues:HealthcareMJ HegarWants to create a public option to make Medicare available for all those who want itBelieves every child should have healthcare coverageWants to protect the progress made by the Affordable Care Act while making improvementsWill stand up for Texans against special interests who put profits over peopleBelieves Big Pharma interests must be held accountable for their part in the opioid epidemicRoyce WestBelieves healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege reserved for only those who can afford itBelieves the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a monumental step for the American healthcare system, but it didnt go far enoughWants to ensure that everyone who wants to enroll in the ACA can do so, without forcing others to forfeit their employer-sponsored insuranceWants to continue educating people on the importance of mental health and include those services with basic healthcare packagesSays he will fight to ensure every Texan receives the affordable care we all deserveEducationMJ HegarBelieves every child should have access to an affordable and quality educationWants teachers, educators, and school staff to be paid salaries worthy of the critical service they provide to societyWants to put an end to the government profiting off loans by lowering interest rates on student debtWants to ensure all higher education from apprenticeship programs to vocational training to degree programs is more affordable for current and future studentsWants to encourage support for and investment in vocational programsRoyce WestWants to ensure funding follows low-income studentsWants a statewide pay increase for teachersWants to offer debt relief programs for college graduatesWants to invest in community colleges, offering free tuition for low-income studentsWants to make the path from a community college into a 4-year institution easier to navigate for studentsWomens rightsMJ HegarSupports federal law codifying Roe v. WadeBelieves politicians should not legislate a womans most intimate decisionsSupports organizations that are providing communities with needed womens health care servicesIs opposed to efforts to shutter clinics that provide critical care to women all over Texas, especially in rural areasWants to provide support for women and families by increasing access to sex education, affordable over-the-counter contraception, and cost-effective childcareRoyce WestBelieves a woman has the right to make decisions about her bodyBelieves any issue involving a womans healthcare is between her and her doctorDedicated to continuing this fight for womens reproductive freedom in WashingtonPlans to take this fight from the Texas State Senate floor to the United States Senate floorImmigrationMJ HegarWants to permanently end child separationWants to ensure asylum seekers are not treated as criminals and their claims are properly processedWants to secure the border with effective procedures and technologiesWants to build a path to citizenship for undocumented residents that prioritizes security and reflects core values as AmericansRoyce WestBelieves children do not belong in cages, and families must stay togetherWants to immediately address the humanitarian crisis going on at the borderBelieves the border needs more resources, like judges who can expedite hearings for asylum seekersWants to take a proactive approach and work with Mexico and Central America in order to stop citizens from fleeing their homesWants to solve the humanitarian crisis at the border, while also investing in technology and infrastructure to keep them secureGun violenceMJ HegarWants to pass common-sense gun safety legislation to require background checks on every single gun sale, including closing the gun show loopholeWants to stop the sale of assault weapons to the publicWants to pass red flag laws limiting access to firearms for domestic abusers including closing the boyfriend loophole and those who would commit acts of domestic terrorismWants to fully fund the CDC to reverse ban on gun violence researchWants for state and local officials to end open carryRoyce West

The winner will face off against Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in November. I don't think anyone thinks it was a perfect program, but how do you think the Paycheck Protection Program loans have played out in Texas? What is your strategy and message to beat John Cornyn? It's completely the fact that John Cornyn clearly doesn't have a spine, she said. I just think we have too much DC, and we need more Texas values, she said.

Prior to the EMILY's List move, Hegar's campaign was already spending $662,000 on television ads. Additionally, her campaign made a joint purchase of $605,000 with the Senate Democratic campaign arm, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. EMILY's List endorsed Hegar shortly after she finished first in the crowded March primary, which had featured multiple other women. The commercials that are being paid for by the Hegar campaign and DSCC tout her commitment to health care, immigration and battling systemic racism. The ensuing days brought further recriminations, with West tying Hegar to "systemic racism" and Hegar implying his indignation was being driven by sexism.

It is just one of the incidents that led to the formation of the Houston Task Force on Policing Reform. Laurence “Larry” Payne is the chair of the task force and says the goal is clear. Here’s what else you can expect on this week’s Houston Newsmakers:Democrats in runoff to fight for chance to face Senator John CornynM.J. Hegar led 12 others in the Democratic primary on March 3rd. Her 22% beat 2nd place finisher State Senator Royce West who captured almost 15% of the vote. They’re now in the runoff that takes place on July 14th and both are guests this week on Houston Newsmakers.

Hegar's runoff opponent, Royce West, took in $430,000 over a slightly shorter period, his campaign said after Hegar's announcement. West's campaign quickly followed up its fundraising announcement with some better news: the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro. West's campaign said it has built more fundraising momentum since the debate, which happened after the last date covered by the pre-runoff report. Hegar's campaign argued Thursday that her latest fundraising details show she is prepared for the general election. Wests campaign said he spent $391,000 between April 1 and June 24, while Hegars did not offer that figure.

MJ Hegar is facing state Sen. Royce West of Dallas in the Democratic runoff for U.S. Senate. John Jordan/The Texas TribuneMJ Hegar raised over $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2020, her campaign announced Thursday, unveiling a haul that marks her best three-month period yet while seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Hegar, the former Air Force helicopter pilot backed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, faces state Sen. Royce West of Dallas in the July 14 primary runoff to take on Cornyn. While West's second-quarter figures were not immediately available, Hegar had a major cash-on-hand advantage over him after the first quarter, $1.1 million to $121,000. Cornyn has stayed far ahead of his Democratic competition, with $12.9 million saved up by the end of March.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidates MJ Hegar and State Sen. Royce West face off at KVUEs Democratic U.S. Senate Primary debate on June 29, 2020. Screenshot via KVUELong-simmering grievances boiled over Monday in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. Senate as Royce West and MJ Hegar sparred bitterly in their latest debate. When West brought it up at the debate, Hegar immediately pushed back, saying she was "disappointed because I think this is why people tune out from politics." West told Hegar at the debate. "Make no mistake about it, she is alleging Royce West broke the law and now its on her to prove it."

Here are some of the things happening in the week ahead:Early voting in the Texas primary runoff begins MondayTexas Gov. Voters participating in the Democratic primary will decide the outcome in two statewide races. Most notably, state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, is facing decorated Air Force veteran MJ Hegar in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat. The other statewide Democratic primary runoff is for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, a regulatory agency that oversees the oil and natural gas industry. Space Center Houston scheduled to reopen to the public WednesdaySpace Center Houston is reopening its doors to the public on July 1.

Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneTexans who want to vote in the upcoming Texas primary runoff election have until Monday, to register. Greg Abbott delayed the upcoming primary runoffs from May to July after the coronavirus pandemic hit the state of Texas. The other statewide Democratic primary runoff is for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, a regulatory agency that oversees the oil and natural gas industry. Voters who voted in the Republican primary in March cannot cross parties and vote in the Democratic primary and vice versa. See the primary runoff ballot here and add key Texas 2020 election dates to your calendar here.

As the pandemic continues to prevent large in-person gatherings, the candidates in Texas' top Democratic primary runoff will meet Saturday for a virtual debate at the Texas Democratic Convention. The threat of the new coronavirus has meant MJ Hegar and Royce West have been campaigning almost exclusively online since the March primary. Hegar, a former Air Force helicopter pilot, has received the backing of the powerful Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Hegar finished first in the 12-way Democratic Senate primary on March 3. She remains the top Democratic fundraiser, ending the latest fundraising period which went through March 31 with $1.1 million cash on hand to West's $121,000.