Decorated Air Force Veteran Poses Serious Challenge for Texas Senate Seat

By Diego Garcia III | Editor of The Brownsville Beacon

MJ Hegar Ready To Fight

MJ Hegar is ready to fight.

Last night, United States Senator John Cornyn debated Major Mary Jennings (MJ) Hegar. Hegar is challenging the Republican incumbent for one of Texas' two U.S. Senate seats.

John Cornyn attempted to portray Hegar as a Democratic puppet who would be beholden to the Democratic leadership in the Senate, often referring to people other than Hegar during Friday night's debate held in Austin.

Despite Cornyn's best attempts, Hegar refused to take the bait. Hegar seemed more like the seasoned incumbent rather than a politician with one failed campaign under her belt (she unsuccessfully challenged John Carter for Texas' 31st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, losing to the incumbent by only three percent). 

She was professional, she was measured, and she rebuffed Cornyn's misdirected attacks by reminding him he was running against her, not against the people who he kept mentioning. Apparently Senator Cornyn's debate prep team just kept telling him to hammer Hegar by mentioning other Democratic members of the Senate and other Democrats in Congress. Hegar just smirked and shrugged off the attacks leveled at her since the bullets being fired in her direction didn't have her name on them, anyway.

She is, however, no stranger to actual gunfire. MJ Hegar is a combat veteran and a former officer in the United States Air Force. After attending the University of Texas at Austin, the Connecticut native was commissioned a Second Lieutenant via the Longhorn's ROTC program. After beginning her career as an aircraft maintenance officer, she was selected for pilot training and earned her wings after 2004, graduating at the top of her class.

Hegar flew Combat Search and Rescue missions in Afghanistan. On her third tour to Afghanistan, she was shot down over Kandahar. She received wounds from shrapnel and from ground fire. Due to her bravery and actions in combat, she was awarded the Purple Heart for her wounds, and she is only one of a select few women who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with a bronze letter "V" attachment for valor in combat.

Hegar's campaign can absolutely be categorized as a grassroots campaign. According to news reports, she is not taking any political contributions from any Political Action Committees. Hegar has relied on donations from five to twenty-five dollars from supporters, according to statements made during last night's debate. 

That grassroots start has since evolved into a massive groundswell.

Cornyn's ad campaigns try to paint Hegar as anti-law enforcement, claiming she wants to defund the police, and parroted the same attack during the debate. Hegar made it clear she did not want to defund the police, and reminded the Senator, and the rest of us watching, she worked hand-in-glove with first responders. She also mentioned she had served as a first responder and found the Senator's comments disrespectful and misleading.

Hegar stood tall and firm against Cornyn's attacks. She never raised her voice, but she did not allow the Senator to continue with his misdirected attacks on Democrats in general; she was always quick to remind the Senator he was running against her and her policies and platform, not against the entire Democratic party.

Hegar wants to work to provide affordable healthcare for Texans, including protecting the coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act. She also wants to work to bring down prices of prescription medication. She also believes the government should not have a say what medical procedures are available to women. She is unapologetically pro-choice. 

She also believes in immigration reform. She is against child separation, against building an ineffective border wall, and for a path to citizenship for those who are already living here in the United States. 

She also believes climate change is something that needs to be looked at carefully. She is a proponent of clean, renewable energy. Her stance on clean energy is welcoming, considering Texas is one of the world's — yes, the world's, not the nation's — leaders in wind farms and wind energy (if Texas were a stand-alone country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wind energy). She also believes in infrastructure improvements to our outdated power grid.

She is also an advocate for public education and has mentioned the all too forgotten importance and impact of vocational technology. Visiting her website (www.mjfortexas.com), you can see her other positions on issues ranging from the economy, to gun violence, and LGBTQ rights.

In the past, Republicans have rested easy in knowing Texas was almost certainly going to be a red state. While Texas was originally a Democratic state up until 1976, Republicans have been able to shade Texas in red since 1980. With the exception of Ann Richards in recent Texas history, Republicans have occupied the governor's mansion, and Republicans have regularly occupied U.S. Senate seats for years.

That could all change in 2020.

If midterm elections are any indication, there is a "blue wave" crashing all throughout the country, and Texas has plenty of coastline. One has to remember Beto O'Rourke's 2018 campaign where he narrowly lost to Grizzly Adams look-a-like Ted Cruz, 48.3% to 50.8%. Hegar is not a flash in the pan. She is not just a show pony — she has substance. She has gravitas. If her performance in her debate is any indication, she will bring a professionalism and a willingness to work with her other colleagues in the Senate to move Texas forward; to move the United States forward.

Hegar is a legitimate war hero who has shed her blood for her countrymen. She was willing to give the last full measure of devotion for her country. Now, she wants to continue serving her country by taking her firebrand version of public service all the way to Washington, D.C.

One of her campaign photos shows her in a Rosie-the-Riveter inspired pose. She's flashing her tattooed bicep letting the people know she's ready, and willing, to fight for Texas. Several polls have Hegar pulling even with Cornyn. Her victory may not be such a far-fetched implausibility after all.

Senator Hegar would serve the Great State of Texas with the same honor she served the United States Air Force. I have a strong feeling MJ Hegar would make an outstanding U.S. Senator and a rare noble politician — one who has the people's best interests at the center of her platform.