We all know electing Joe Biden will be good for the country—it will mean, at the very least, that we’ll have a competent leader to oversee the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. But if we want to actually enact a progressive legislative agenda and fix the things we care about, the most impactful thing we can do is to flip the Senate. Mitch McConnell, who controls the Republican-led Senate, has stalled every important bill passed by House Democrats, including bills to protect voting rights, fund the post office, and provide economic relief to Americans hit hardest by the pandemic. If we don’t flip the Senate, Republicans will continue ignoring policies that can address the most urgent issues we face, like climate change and police violence.
Right now Democrats have a really good shot at flipping the chamber, but it’s going to take a huge surge of grassroots energy to get them over the finish line. That’s why we need people like you to get out the vote for our aspiring Senators. Many of these campaigns are also identifying potential voters for downballot candidates, which means they're committed to flipping seats up and down the ballot.
If you’re in, learn more about the candidates below, and pick one (or a few) to volunteer for this weekend. Let’s flip this thing.
In Alabama, incumbent Senator Doug Jones is defending his seat against Republican nominee Tommy Tuberville. In 2017, Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a Senate special election to fill the seat of Jeff Sessions, and became the first Democrat to represent the state in 21 years. Despite Alabama being a deeply red state, in his time in the Senate, Jones has fought to expand health care coverage and raise wages, and supported civil rights. If you look at how he began his career in public service, that is not surprising. Shortly after he became a U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Jones prosecuted and convicted two KKK members for murder of four little girls during the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church, a historic black church in Birmingham. Jones is up against former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville has no governing experience, but was endorsed by Donald Trump during his GOP primary. After his career as a football coach, Tuberville started a hedge fund that was accused of defrauding its investors. Despite Tuberville’s lack of qualification, Jones probably has the most difficult Senate reelection fight in the country.
Arizona - Mark Kelly
The GOP really wants Martha McSally to happen. Following her 2018 loss to Kyrsten Sinema, Gov. Ducey gave McSally a consolation prize - namely, John McCain's empty seat. Two years later, it's time for the voters to have their say. Again. If you didn't like her two years ago, guess what? Nothing's changed! McSally has been a staunch Trump supporter, and has voted in near-lockstep with him on every major issue. As Arizona voters (including Republicans) drift further away from Trump, McSally's approval has dropped as well. She recently suggested supporters should "skip a meal" and contribute to her campaign, which seems kinda bleak!
Not helping her is her challenger's popularity. A former astronaut, Mark Kelly was initially vaulted into the spotlight for tragic reasons: as husband to Rep. Gabby Giffords, Kelly oversaw her recovery from a horrific shooting, which left six dead and Giffords with permanent brain damage. Kelly dealt directly with media throughout the ordeal, before he and Giffords founded Americans For Responsible Solutions, a PAC aimed at practical gun control. This race is seen as one of Democrats best opportunities to flip a Senate seat.
Not helping her is her challenger's popularity. A former astronaut, Mark Kelly was initially vaulted into the spotlight for tragic reasons: as husband to Rep. Gabby Giffords, Kelly oversaw her recovery from a horrific shooting, which left six dead and Giffords with permanent brain damage. Kelly dealt directly with media throughout the ordeal, before he and Giffords founded Americans For Responsible Solutions, a PAC aimed at practical gun control. This race is seen as one of Democrats best opportunities to flip a Senate seat.
Colorado - John Hickenlooper
Gov. Hickenlooper was popular enough after leaving office to run for president, then was savvy enough to drop out quickly. The field was over-crowded and his services were needed elswehere, namely here: this seat's a must-win for Democrats looking to flip the Senate. Hickenlooper faces incumbent Cory Gardner, who is decidedly less popular in Colorado. It takes a special kind of scammer for the Denver Post to rescind its 2014 endorsement, and that's exactly the level of scammer Gardner's turned out to be. While he ran as an "independent-thinking" Republican who'd put CO first, Gardner quickly adopted the GOP party line, and has been "100 percent" in line with Trump, in the words of the president himself. Despite Colorado's track record as a purple state with an independent streak, Gardner has used his seat to advance a far-right agenda: from gutting health care protections, to defunding Planned Parenthood, and blocking background checks for new gun owners.
Meanwhile, over two terms as governor, Hickenlooper took Colorado from the 40th state for job creation to the number one economy in the country. He also expanded access to affordable health care, and created green energy regulations that were then set as standard by the federal government.
Gov. Hickenlooper was popular enough after leaving office to run for president, then was savvy enough to drop out quickly. The field was over-crowded and his services were needed elswehere, namely here: this seat's a must-win for Democrats looking to flip the Senate. Hickenlooper faces incumbent Cory Gardner, who is decidedly less popular in Colorado. It takes a special kind of scammer for the Denver Post to rescind its 2014 endorsement, and that's exactly the level of scammer Gardner's turned out to be. While he ran as an "independent-thinking" Republican who'd put CO first, Gardner quickly adopted the GOP party line, and has been "100 percent" in line with Trump, in the words of the president himself. Despite Colorado's track record as a purple state with an independent streak, Gardner has used his seat to advance a far-right agenda: from gutting health care protections, to defunding Planned Parenthood, and blocking background checks for new gun owners.
Meanwhile, over two terms as governor, Hickenlooper took Colorado from the 40th state for job creation to the number one economy in the country. He also expanded access to affordable health care, and created green energy regulations that were then set as standard by the federal government.
Georgia - Jon Ossoff
In 2017, Jon Ossoff mobilized record turnout for a House special election. He was ultimately defeated by a thin margin, but now he's up against incumbent David Perdue. Much like the giant spider in IT retreating back into clown form (spoiler alert), Perdue has retreated into moderate Republican clown form: suddenly no mention of Trump (despite voting with him 95% of the time), no congratulations to Georgia QAnon House candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, even no - well okay he did say Jon Ossoff might "turn us into a socialist state", but honestly for Perdue, this is altogether big-boy stuff.
Of course, Perdue's behavior might also be due to a scandal that's even cynical by Trump-era standards - namely, his role in downplaying Covid to the public, while buying up a surge of medical stocks in private. Since Perdue's also on the Senate Banking Committee and was briefed early about the pandemic, this looks pretty gross! Now, Ossoff is forcing him to a tighter race than anyone was expecting.
In 2017, Jon Ossoff mobilized record turnout for a House special election. He was ultimately defeated by a thin margin, but now he's up against incumbent David Perdue. Much like the giant spider in IT retreating back into clown form (spoiler alert), Perdue has retreated into moderate Republican clown form: suddenly no mention of Trump (despite voting with him 95% of the time), no congratulations to Georgia QAnon House candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene, even no - well okay he did say Jon Ossoff might "turn us into a socialist state", but honestly for Perdue, this is altogether big-boy stuff.
Of course, Perdue's behavior might also be due to a scandal that's even cynical by Trump-era standards - namely, his role in downplaying Covid to the public, while buying up a surge of medical stocks in private. Since Perdue's also on the Senate Banking Committee and was briefed early about the pandemic, this looks pretty gross! Now, Ossoff is forcing him to a tighter race than anyone was expecting.
Georgia Special - Rev. Raphael Warnock
When Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson resigned from the Senate due to health concerns midway through his third Senate term in late 2019, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp thought long and hard about the least controversial person he could appoint to the seat until a special election was held and somehow landed on businesswoman and WNBA team owner Kelly Loeffler, a major donor with no previous political experience. Due to Georgia election law, the special election to fill the rest of Sen. Isakson’s term will take place this November in what has turned into a very crowded, open primary that will likely result in a January 2021 runoff, if no candidate gets at least 50 percent of the primary vote. Sen. Loeffler gained attention at the start of the coronavirus pandemic when she sold $20 million worth of stocks and invested in PPE manufacturers. This became additional ammo for Republican challenger, Rep. Doug Collins. Collins was memorable as one of Trump’s biggest advocates during the impeachment proceedings. There are several other candidates running, but the Democratic Party is coalescing behind Reverend Raphael Warnock, the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Warnock grew up in public housing in Savannah and is a longtime advocate for health care and economic justice. This special election is unique in that two candidates who receive the most votes in November (if no one clears 50%) will advance to a runoff election, regardless of party, meaning the two leading Republican candidates could face one another in January if Democrats are unable to consolidate support behind Warnock.
When Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson resigned from the Senate due to health concerns midway through his third Senate term in late 2019, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp thought long and hard about the least controversial person he could appoint to the seat until a special election was held and somehow landed on businesswoman and WNBA team owner Kelly Loeffler, a major donor with no previous political experience. Due to Georgia election law, the special election to fill the rest of Sen. Isakson’s term will take place this November in what has turned into a very crowded, open primary that will likely result in a January 2021 runoff, if no candidate gets at least 50 percent of the primary vote. Sen. Loeffler gained attention at the start of the coronavirus pandemic when she sold $20 million worth of stocks and invested in PPE manufacturers. This became additional ammo for Republican challenger, Rep. Doug Collins. Collins was memorable as one of Trump’s biggest advocates during the impeachment proceedings. There are several other candidates running, but the Democratic Party is coalescing behind Reverend Raphael Warnock, the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Warnock grew up in public housing in Savannah and is a longtime advocate for health care and economic justice. This special election is unique in that two candidates who receive the most votes in November (if no one clears 50%) will advance to a runoff election, regardless of party, meaning the two leading Republican candidates could face one another in January if Democrats are unable to consolidate support behind Warnock.
Iowa - Theresa Greenfield
Theresa Greenfield and Joni Ernst are locked in one of the tightest races in the country. An Iraq War veteran who grew up on a hog farm, Joni Ernst was elected to the Senate in 2014 to represent Iowa as an outsider who would make “Washington squeal.” She now serves as vice chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference. She’s voted to eliminate coverage for pre-existing conditions and said that Congress should consider cutting Social Security. Democrat Theresa Greenfield also grew up on a family farm, and when the farm crisis of the 1980s hit rural families in her area, she did not give up on her dream to attend college. With the help of financial aid and multiple part-time jobs, she put herself through school. When she was expecting her second child, her husband was killed in an accident at his job as a union electrical worker. One of the things that helped Theresa and her family stay out of poverty was Social Security survivor benefits, and she’s committed to protecting Social Security. Theresa went on to work as an urban planner and real estate developer in Iowa. Although Iowa has been trending red in presidential elections, this seat was held by Democrat Tom Harkin until his retirement. Greenfield is giving Ernst a run for her money quite literally, and to save her seat and position in the GOP leadership, SuperPACs tied to Mitch McConnell are spending $15 million on ads in Iowa through Election Day.
Theresa Greenfield and Joni Ernst are locked in one of the tightest races in the country. An Iraq War veteran who grew up on a hog farm, Joni Ernst was elected to the Senate in 2014 to represent Iowa as an outsider who would make “Washington squeal.” She now serves as vice chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference. She’s voted to eliminate coverage for pre-existing conditions and said that Congress should consider cutting Social Security. Democrat Theresa Greenfield also grew up on a family farm, and when the farm crisis of the 1980s hit rural families in her area, she did not give up on her dream to attend college. With the help of financial aid and multiple part-time jobs, she put herself through school. When she was expecting her second child, her husband was killed in an accident at his job as a union electrical worker. One of the things that helped Theresa and her family stay out of poverty was Social Security survivor benefits, and she’s committed to protecting Social Security. Theresa went on to work as an urban planner and real estate developer in Iowa. Although Iowa has been trending red in presidential elections, this seat was held by Democrat Tom Harkin until his retirement. Greenfield is giving Ernst a run for her money quite literally, and to save her seat and position in the GOP leadership, SuperPACs tied to Mitch McConnell are spending $15 million on ads in Iowa through Election Day.
Kansas - Dr. Barbara Bollier
Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, but Dr. Barbara Bollier is not your average Democrat. Now this election's a true toss-up, and Bollier could be poised to make history. The whiplash of the GOP's hard-right turn in recent years has led to many Kansans souring on them. It started with Laura Kelly's election as governor and Sharice Davids' hard-fought win for the House. With Republican Sen. Pat Roberts not seeking reelection, Kansas has an open seat, and Democrats have a strong recruit in Dr. Barbara Bollier. A retired anesthesiologist, she has served in the Kansas legislature for over a decade, where she was on the front lines of advocacy in support of Medicaid expansion and against Gov. Brownback's disastrous tax experiment.
While Republicans didn’t get their top choice recruit when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided not to run in his home state, they also didn’t get their nightmare scenario, former Secretary of State and right wing extremist Kris Kobach, who lost the governor’s race in 2018. Instead, Bollier is running against Congressman Roger Marshall, also a physician, but a hyper-partisan Republican who is campaigning on overturning the Affordable Care Act, even during a pandemic (he also may have tried to run his neighbor over with a tractor at one point). Recent polling has shown this race in a dead heat, and Bollier has raised more than any candidate running for state, local, or federal office has raised in Kansas history.
Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, but Dr. Barbara Bollier is not your average Democrat. Now this election's a true toss-up, and Bollier could be poised to make history. The whiplash of the GOP's hard-right turn in recent years has led to many Kansans souring on them. It started with Laura Kelly's election as governor and Sharice Davids' hard-fought win for the House. With Republican Sen. Pat Roberts not seeking reelection, Kansas has an open seat, and Democrats have a strong recruit in Dr. Barbara Bollier. A retired anesthesiologist, she has served in the Kansas legislature for over a decade, where she was on the front lines of advocacy in support of Medicaid expansion and against Gov. Brownback's disastrous tax experiment.
While Republicans didn’t get their top choice recruit when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided not to run in his home state, they also didn’t get their nightmare scenario, former Secretary of State and right wing extremist Kris Kobach, who lost the governor’s race in 2018. Instead, Bollier is running against Congressman Roger Marshall, also a physician, but a hyper-partisan Republican who is campaigning on overturning the Affordable Care Act, even during a pandemic (he also may have tried to run his neighbor over with a tractor at one point). Recent polling has shown this race in a dead heat, and Bollier has raised more than any candidate running for state, local, or federal office has raised in Kansas history.
Michigan - Gary Peters
Two years ago, Republican John James challenged incumbent Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow for one of Michigan's Senate seats and lost soundly. Now he's scrambling for the other one, and the stakes are even higher - if Democrats lose this seat, they lose their chance to flip the whole Senate. Incumbent Democrat Gary Peters is in a tight race with James (who has a big fan in Donald Trump), and his biggest issue at present is voters don't really know who he is. Really. Peters is a workhorse, who's retained his military instincts for quiet collaboration but has struggled in the publicity department.
But if Peters has trouble selling himself, his actions should speak for him. Most recently, he launched an investigation into Trump's changes at the USPS, delivering a detailed report on its mail slow-down, particularly in Detroit. He's been a strong hand for the Dems in the Senate, and needs all the support he can get fending off Jones' second attempt here.
Two years ago, Republican John James challenged incumbent Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow for one of Michigan's Senate seats and lost soundly. Now he's scrambling for the other one, and the stakes are even higher - if Democrats lose this seat, they lose their chance to flip the whole Senate. Incumbent Democrat Gary Peters is in a tight race with James (who has a big fan in Donald Trump), and his biggest issue at present is voters don't really know who he is. Really. Peters is a workhorse, who's retained his military instincts for quiet collaboration but has struggled in the publicity department.
But if Peters has trouble selling himself, his actions should speak for him. Most recently, he launched an investigation into Trump's changes at the USPS, delivering a detailed report on its mail slow-down, particularly in Detroit. He's been a strong hand for the Dems in the Senate, and needs all the support he can get fending off Jones' second attempt here.
Mississippi - Mike Espy
Mike Espy and Cindy Hyde-Smith first faced off in a 2018 special election, in which Hyde-Smith barely won. Espy received almost 47% of the vote, the best performance by a Democrat in Mississippi in over 30 years. This race is also starting to look very close, with Espy currently trailing Hyde-Smith but closing the gap and gaining momentum.
Espy has been both Assistant Secretary of State and Assistant Attorney General in Mississippi, showcasing a talent for working across the aisle, especially on issues like rural education and infrastructure. He was then elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the first Black man to represent Mississippi on a federal level since the Reconstruction Era (truly a lot to dissect there, but most relevantly, a major accomplishment). Espy also served as Secretary of Agriculture in the Clinton administration before retiring to private law.
Hyde-Smith has tried to keep a low profile, especially after telling a rancher on-camera that she'd be front row to any public hanging he hosted (she later apologized "to anyone that was offended" in a state with almost 600 documented lynchings). In a state ravaged by Covid, faith in the GOP has soured - Trump's still likely to win, but his support doesn't fully translate to Hyde-Smith and has the potential to be an upset.
Mike Espy and Cindy Hyde-Smith first faced off in a 2018 special election, in which Hyde-Smith barely won. Espy received almost 47% of the vote, the best performance by a Democrat in Mississippi in over 30 years. This race is also starting to look very close, with Espy currently trailing Hyde-Smith but closing the gap and gaining momentum.
Espy has been both Assistant Secretary of State and Assistant Attorney General in Mississippi, showcasing a talent for working across the aisle, especially on issues like rural education and infrastructure. He was then elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the first Black man to represent Mississippi on a federal level since the Reconstruction Era (truly a lot to dissect there, but most relevantly, a major accomplishment). Espy also served as Secretary of Agriculture in the Clinton administration before retiring to private law.
Hyde-Smith has tried to keep a low profile, especially after telling a rancher on-camera that she'd be front row to any public hanging he hosted (she later apologized "to anyone that was offended" in a state with almost 600 documented lynchings). In a state ravaged by Covid, faith in the GOP has soured - Trump's still likely to win, but his support doesn't fully translate to Hyde-Smith and has the potential to be an upset.
Montana - Steve Bullock
Steve Bullock is the two-term Governor of Montana and Dad-joke aficionado who is running for the Senate for the first time. He ran for president in 2019, but listened and decided to challenge incumbent Steve Daines for the Senate instead. Bullock was popular here before 2020, but his governing through the COVID-19 crisis has garnered fresh praise: swift containment measures, bipartisan funding for rural hospitals, and the Medicare he expanded to 90,000 residents are all credited with saving lives.
Over the same time period, Sen. Daines has spent his freshman term voting to gut the Affordable Care act, failing to pass extended pandemic relief, and enabling Trump to attack Iran without congressional approval, while Bullock touts his independent streak and breaks from the Democratic establishment.
Steve Bullock is the two-term Governor of Montana and Dad-joke aficionado who is running for the Senate for the first time. He ran for president in 2019, but listened and decided to challenge incumbent Steve Daines for the Senate instead. Bullock was popular here before 2020, but his governing through the COVID-19 crisis has garnered fresh praise: swift containment measures, bipartisan funding for rural hospitals, and the Medicare he expanded to 90,000 residents are all credited with saving lives.
Over the same time period, Sen. Daines has spent his freshman term voting to gut the Affordable Care act, failing to pass extended pandemic relief, and enabling Trump to attack Iran without congressional approval, while Bullock touts his independent streak and breaks from the Democratic establishment.
North Carolina - Cal Cunningham
Thom Tillis is deeply unpopular, even with Republicans. From writing a Washington Post editorial opposing Trump's border wall then immediately crumbling to vote for it, to a self-described "courageous" health care vote eliminating protections for millions, to (of course) suggesting restaurant workers shouldn't have to wash their hands after using the bathroom, Tillis' antics have alienated some who voted him into office.
Dem candidate Cal Cunningham is running to unseat him, and is riding an unusually broad wave of support. A decorated Army vet who spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan, Cunningham is focusing on issues with crossover appeal - including expanded support for military families, affordable health care, and environmental clean-up (as VP of WasteZero, Cunningham spent seven years researching innovative waste solutions). Democrats have a real opportunity to flip the Senate this year, and doing so will likely depend on Cal Cunningham defeating Thom Tillis.
Thom Tillis is deeply unpopular, even with Republicans. From writing a Washington Post editorial opposing Trump's border wall then immediately crumbling to vote for it, to a self-described "courageous" health care vote eliminating protections for millions, to (of course) suggesting restaurant workers shouldn't have to wash their hands after using the bathroom, Tillis' antics have alienated some who voted him into office.
Dem candidate Cal Cunningham is running to unseat him, and is riding an unusually broad wave of support. A decorated Army vet who spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan, Cunningham is focusing on issues with crossover appeal - including expanded support for military families, affordable health care, and environmental clean-up (as VP of WasteZero, Cunningham spent seven years researching innovative waste solutions). Democrats have a real opportunity to flip the Senate this year, and doing so will likely depend on Cal Cunningham defeating Thom Tillis.
South Carolina - Jaime Harrison
Lindsey Graham's lack of shame is naturally awe-inspiring - like a ladybug, or a slug, or any number of exotic invertebrates. Before 2016, unlike many southern GOP gentlemen, Graham would work with Democrats on issues like climate change and immigration reform, preferring to sit at the table instead of being irrelevant. Since the arrival of Donald Trump, however, the senator's need for relevancy has fully eclipsed everything else. During the 2016 primary, Graham characterized Trump as a "jackass" and "a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot". Trump responded by giving out Graham's cell phone number during a campaign speech. Graham concluded to CNN that Trump was a "kook" and "unfit for office", but like any buddy comedy, this was just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
After three years of seeing him as one of the most vocal Trump apologists while ignoring his own constituents, South Carolina might actually, really, TRULY be done marveling at Lindsey Graham. Democrat Jaime Harrison has closed the gap completely in this race. A moderate Dem with friendships across the aisle, he was the first Black chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, and knows how to compromise. This is Graham’s tightest race yet, and the race is gaining national attention as Harrison keeps gaining in the polls and fundraising against one of the Senate’s most senior members.
Lindsey Graham's lack of shame is naturally awe-inspiring - like a ladybug, or a slug, or any number of exotic invertebrates. Before 2016, unlike many southern GOP gentlemen, Graham would work with Democrats on issues like climate change and immigration reform, preferring to sit at the table instead of being irrelevant. Since the arrival of Donald Trump, however, the senator's need for relevancy has fully eclipsed everything else. During the 2016 primary, Graham characterized Trump as a "jackass" and "a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot". Trump responded by giving out Graham's cell phone number during a campaign speech. Graham concluded to CNN that Trump was a "kook" and "unfit for office", but like any buddy comedy, this was just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
After three years of seeing him as one of the most vocal Trump apologists while ignoring his own constituents, South Carolina might actually, really, TRULY be done marveling at Lindsey Graham. Democrat Jaime Harrison has closed the gap completely in this race. A moderate Dem with friendships across the aisle, he was the first Black chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, and knows how to compromise. This is Graham’s tightest race yet, and the race is gaining national attention as Harrison keeps gaining in the polls and fundraising against one of the Senate’s most senior members.
Texas - MJ Hegar
As an Air Force pilot in Afghanistan, MJ Hegar was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for her harrowing search and rescue missions, becoming one of only a few women to hold the honor. Injuries sustained from being shot down forced Hegar away from flying, and outdated policies banned her (as a woman) from ground combat. She was forced to transition away from the service and into a teaching role at UT, where she also mentored ROTC cadets. But she also challenged the military's anti-female ground combat rule, and eventually overturned the policy. Thanks to her work, women are now eligible for thousands of positions they had previously been barred from. In a closely watched race, Hegar ran as a Democrat for the House of Representatives in 2018, and pushed incumbent John Carter to his closest race in 18 years.
Meanwhile, incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn's popularity has tanked in 2020, giving him a lower approval rating than even Ted Cruz. That's tough to do when you're as generic as Cornyn, but his mishandling of the Covid crisis is a big reason: he downplayed the virus' threat, and has spent recent interviews patting himself on the back for months-old pandemic relief, while failing to extend it. As Majority Whip, Cornyn has been vital in the fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and is a big reason why 12 million Texans with pre-existing conditions could soon lose their coverage. During a pandemic. This race is close, and would be a major win for Democrats - not just in Texas, but across the country.
As an Air Force pilot in Afghanistan, MJ Hegar was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for her harrowing search and rescue missions, becoming one of only a few women to hold the honor. Injuries sustained from being shot down forced Hegar away from flying, and outdated policies banned her (as a woman) from ground combat. She was forced to transition away from the service and into a teaching role at UT, where she also mentored ROTC cadets. But she also challenged the military's anti-female ground combat rule, and eventually overturned the policy. Thanks to her work, women are now eligible for thousands of positions they had previously been barred from. In a closely watched race, Hegar ran as a Democrat for the House of Representatives in 2018, and pushed incumbent John Carter to his closest race in 18 years.
Meanwhile, incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn's popularity has tanked in 2020, giving him a lower approval rating than even Ted Cruz. That's tough to do when you're as generic as Cornyn, but his mishandling of the Covid crisis is a big reason: he downplayed the virus' threat, and has spent recent interviews patting himself on the back for months-old pandemic relief, while failing to extend it. As Majority Whip, Cornyn has been vital in the fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and is a big reason why 12 million Texans with pre-existing conditions could soon lose their coverage. During a pandemic. This race is close, and would be a major win for Democrats - not just in Texas, but across the country.