Democratic phenom fails to gain traction in Texas House race
Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, is in the midst of his first competitive race since entering Congress in 2002, and it’s looking more and more like he will hold on to his seat.
His challenger, Democrat MJ Hegar, became a fundraising phenomenon on the strength of a viral video about her life and military experience that has been viewed over 2.9 million times. Despite her spending advantage, however, Hegar hasn’t been able to close the widening gap in the reliably Republican 31st District, which stretches from Temple to Austin’s northern suburbs. A Siena College/New York Times poll released on Oct. 5 put Carter ahead of Hegar by 51 percent to 35 percent.
While Carter has offered kind words for his challenger, he portrays her as out of step with the Lone Star State.
“My opponent has a great story, and the commercial was well-made. I respect her for her service and sacrifice for the country, but frankly, her policy positions are bad for Texas. She thinks the Obama administration was the ‘golden age’ of America, but I think the people at Fort Hood would certainly disagree,” Carter told Yahoo News.
Carter’s positions are standard fare for a conservative from Texas: secure the border, cut taxes and spending, advocate for technical education programs, repeal Obamacare, secure more funding for police, oppose abortion and defend the Second Amendment. Hegar, Carter says, has principles better suited for a blue state.
“She advocates for single-payer socialized medicine, which will hurt seniors and reduce the quality of care, and she’s already said she wants to raise taxes,” he said. “Her viral video certainly allowed her to raise a ton of money from outside of Texas to run this race, but the folks in California and New York that donated that money don’t represent Texas values, and neither does my opponent.”
Hegar counters that she is running for Congress “on Texas values”: protecting people with preexisting conditions, lowering taxes for the middle class and getting more infrastructure investments in the district.
“I grew up in this district and am raising my children here, and I know that the people here are sick and tired of the absent representation they have been getting. I voted [for] Rep. John Carter in the past, but when I was a veteran seeking his help, he wasn’t there and hasn’t been there for countless veterans, seniors and families,” she told Yahoo News.
Hegar has far outraised Carter — $3.4 million to $1.5 million — but it doesn’t look like nationwide enthusiasm for her candidacy is translating into crossover support in Texas. Though the race is considered competitive, the Cook Political Report and the FiveThirtyEight polling website forecast the outcome of the contest as likely Republican.
Carter thinks his opponent’s astonishing fundraising success is emblematic of how political campaigns have become less substantive since he entered Congress.
“With the rise of social media, politics has become more about three-second sound bites and entertainment rather than policy positions. My opponent has been able to hide behind that culture,” he said.
The 31st District is home to the largest population of veterans in Texas and includes Fort Hood, the military base near the city of Killeen.
Carter, the chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, said that “experience and record matter” and that he has a history of advocating for veterans.
“I’ve secured over $1.4 billion for our Fort Hood soldiers and funded the Department of Veterans Affairs at the highest level in the history of the agency,” Carter said. “I’m one of the few members that have passed legislation under Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump, so I know how to fight for the people of Central Texas in any political environment and I’ve proven that.”
Hegar, on the other hand, said you don’t have to look any further than Carter’s voting record to see that he has not been there for veterans.
“He voted against protecting people with preexisting conditions, voted against pay raises for the military while increasing his own salary, and voted against the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act and against protecting members of our military from sexual assault,” Hegar said.
_____
Read more Yahoo News midterms coverage:
Red-tide awakening: How Florida’s environmental woes could hurt Rick Scott
‘Outside agitators’ phrase resurfaces in Georgia governor’s race
Menendez race pits ethical concerns against party loyalty, and loyalty is winning
Portrait of a moderate district: NJ-11 leans R, but the race leans D
In Senate race, GOP Rep. Blackburn accuses her opponent of being a Democrat
Photos: Suspicious packages sent to top Democrats, CNN and others
