Military Hero MJ Hegar Launches Democratic Bid Against U.S. Rep. John Carter

[TexasTowelie]

In a Texas congressional district that includes one of the country's largest military bases, a military hero is betting she can stage a political upset.

Air Force veteran MJ Hegar is launching a Democratic challenge against U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, in Texas' solidly red 31st Congressional District.

"I see a threat to our Constitution, our democracy," Hegar said in a recent interview, "and I feel compelled to do something more about it."

Hegar served three tours in Afghanistan as a search-and-rescue pilot, and in 2009, she saved the lives of her passengers after her medevac helicopter was shot down by the Taliban. She subsequently received the Purple Heart as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor Device.

Read more: http://kut.org/post/military-hero-mj-hegar-launches-democratic-bid-against-us-rep-john-carter

[riversedge]

1. She will needs lots of courage and strength. it is Texas afterall.

......Hegar's memoir, "Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman’s Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front," was published earlier this year and is being made into a film. Angelina Jolie is reportedly in talks to star in it.

Carter's district has been reliably Republican, but Hegar, now an executive coach and consultant living in Round Rock, believes she can flip it, confident in her ability to garner crossover support with her experience at the national and international levels. She said her decision to run was partly motivated by the election of President Donald Trump, who has caused concern among even his own party's national security professionals.

"I think being a Republican is not what it used to be," Hegar said. "Even though [the district] is historically Republican, I think some people are voting Republican because they have a misperception of what the Democratic Party is."

Hegar grew up in a Republican family and voted for the party in her youth. But she said many of the things that once drew her to the GOP — including the principle of small government — are "no longer true," and she now describes herself as an "independent Democrat."

On a number of hot-button issues, Hegar strikes a moderate tone.......................

[stevepal]

2. She will also likely need divine intervention

or a poor tilt by whoever programs the voting machines in that particular district.

VERIFY THE VOTE!

[riversedge]

5. Maybe the good gods and goddesses will help her:-)

[longship]

3. Wow! What an incredible person.

That she is qualified goes beyond question. This seat is going to be a tough fight. But looking at MJ's history, it very well may be within reach.

Good luck MJ!

[TexasTowelie]

4. That district sorely needs better representation.

John Carter has been in office since 2003 and hasn't accomplished much of anything.

[PDittie]

6. Voted in the 2016 GOP primary.

Scrubbed her FB page of several Libertarian Party references (Ayn Rand, etc.). Self-professed Second Amendment supporter. Williamson County Dem chair says they've never seen her nor heard of her prior. I read all of this in the comments under the TexTrib article posted to Facebook.

Some people believe this is the only kind of Democrat with a shot (no pun intended) in districts like TX-31.

[LeftInTX]

8. I read she had Gasden flags on her FB

............................grhhhh

Hopefully she will have someone to primary against

[TexasTowelie]

9. The final paragraph states that she already has opponents in the primary..

Hegar is joining an already crowded field of Democrats who have filed to challenge Carter, including fellow veteran Kent Lester; Dr. Christine Eady Mann, a family physician in Cedar Park; and Mike Clark, who first challenged Carter in 2016.

I don't have much knowledge about Kent Lester or Mike Clark, but I've read some articles in the Williamson County Sun about Dr. Christine Man and she appears to have a more progressive background with her primary issue being health care reform.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Yes we should make this about the Constitution

remind voters of the power from which they came and the extent to which it's
been corrupted by the GOP who are a threat to democracy itself