Democracy for America endorses Royce West for U.S. Senate in Texas

Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced its endorsement of Royce West for U.S. Senate in Texas. West is running against 2018 congressional candidate M.J. Hegar in the July 14 primary run-off that will determine Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s Democratic opponent in November.

Statement from DFA CEO Yvette Simpson on the grassroots group’s endorsement of Royce West for U.S. Senate in Texas:

“Only one candidate in July’s Senate run-off in Texas is a tested fighter for progressive priorities like criminal justice reform, common-sense gun legislation, and a fair wage, and that’s why Democracy for America is excited to endorse Royce West for U.S. Senate.

“Not only does Royce West give Texas Democrats an opportunity to nominate a candidate who has won office before, but when he’s elected he’ll be the first African American to represent Texas, an emerging majority-minority state, in the U.S. Senate and potentially just the fourth Black member of Congress’ upper chamber in Jan. 2021.

“Royce is DFA’s choice for U.S. Senate in Texas because he’s spent 27 years fighting for change in the Lone Star State, repeatedly delivered for the community he’s served, and will add a critical perspective from a rapidly changing state to the Senate’s Democratic caucus. We’re honored to stand with Royce West ahead of July’s primary run-off and we look forward to fighting alongside him all the way through November.” -- Yvette Simpson, CEO, Democracy for America

Statement from Royce West on receiving DFA’s endorsement in his race for U.S. Senate:

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Democracy for America.

“For 27 years, I have fought for the best interests of all Texans when it comes to healthcare, a woman’s right to choose, public education and more.

“As a U.S. Senator, I will continue to work on these issues, and others including climate change, making college affordable for every American, and working for a $15 minimum wage.

“We must continue to work for positive, progressive change in our country, and I will do that as your next U.S. Senator from Texas.” -- Royce West

The endorsement of West is part of DFA’s 2020 “Flip the Senate” strategy, which aims to (a) hold Senate Republicans accountable for the role they played in helping cover up Donald Trump’s White House crimes and (b) end Republican control of a body that could halt inclusive populist reform, even with a Democrat in the White House.

To take the majority in the U.S. Senate, Democrats need to gain just four additional seats and West is the seventh 2020 candidate to receive DFA’s endorsement. Prior to today, the list of U.S. Senate candidates that the grassroots progressive group has endorsed includes Teresa Tomlinson and Rev. Raphael Warnock in Georgia, Theresa Greenfield in Iowa, Jamie Harrison in South Carolina, Cal Cunningham in North Carolina and Betsy Sweet in Maine.

DFA has 46,771 members in Texas and more than one million members nationwide.