Following a historic 2018 primary campaign for U.S. Senate on progressive issues, policies, and solutions, supporters of our campaign have asked whether and when I will seek office again.
John Cornyn and many of our other elected representatives continue to maintain a status quo which leaves millions in systemic poverty, without healthcare, secure jobs, affordable housing, or savings for our future. Our campaign earned 24% of the Democratic vote on a platform of reform. Across the nation, voters have elected grassroots candidates running on the same platform. Still, the parties refuse to hear voters’ demands. Together we have remained active, calling for the end of the war economy, systemic racism, dependence on the fossil fuel industry and organizing to end poverty.
I worked in healthcare for 6 years, I have witnessed the flaws in our healthcare system, something most politicians have not. My experiences in a system which favors the wealthy and multinational businesses inspired me to become a human rights advocate, activist and organizer in the Houston area. I am a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and fully support the DSA platform and DSA values. Before joining my local chapter of the organization, I contributed to the drafting of resolutions for the DSA platform.
I am the daughter of immigrants, the oldest of 7 siblings, and the first American-born child in my family. The sacrifices my parents and grandparents made fueled my run for the U.S. Senate. I grew up in a migrant working family, and I understand the struggles of people burdened by crushing debt, absence of job security, and lack of healthcare coverage.
In order to prepare for the 2020 U.S. Senate race to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, I am asking for your pledge of support. If you would like to continue the campaign we began to bring real reform to our government and make it work for the working class, then please let me know with your commitment.
In Solidarity,
Sema Hernandez
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February 26, 2019
Defeat Sen. John Cornyn
SEMA FOR U.S. SENATE TO DEFEAT SEN. JOHN CORNYN
“SEMA HERNANDEZ IS THE ONLY TEXAS DEMOCRAT TO OFFICIALLY
ANNOUNCE HER CANDIDACY FOR THE 2020 RACE FOR U.S. SENATE”
* * * * * IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * * * *
HOUSTON, Texas -- Senate Candidate Sema Hernandez has called on Sen. John Cornyn to retract his quote of deceased fascist Benito Mussolini, which is reflective of Mr. Cornyn’s past support of restricting the rights of individuals.
On February 24, 2019, Sen. Cornyn issued the following quote on Twitter:
“‘We were the first to assert that the more complicated the forms assumed by civilization, the more restricted the freedom of the individual must become.’ Benito Mussolini.”
In 2017, the senator co-sponsored and later voted for a bill to reauthorize a warrantless spying on US citizens as part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He voted numerous times to strip US citizens of their access to healthcare by a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. In recent weeks, Sen. Cornyn called for a coup to overturn the election in Venezuela, disregard the votes of the people of Venezuela, and replace the elected President with a politician who refused to put his name on the ballot.
Ms. Hernandez rejects each of these actions as an obstruction of the rights of sovereign individuals, not unlike the laws Mussolini imposed on Italy during WWII. Mr. Cornyn’s apparent admiration for the fascist Mussolini is an affront to the U.S. Constitution and to the rights of Texans and all who reside in the United States and its Territories.
In September 2018, Sema Hernandez declared her candidacy to challenge Sen. John Cornyn for his Senate seat in the U.S. Congress. Conditions for working Texas families have worsened over the past several decades. A worldwide humanitarian crisis caused by decades of US military intervention, failed regime change, economic sanctions, and trade deals has forced refugees to seek asylum at our borders. It is time for change.
Let's defeat Sen. John Cornyn together!
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January 3, 2019
A Green New Deal in the Senate, From Texas with Sema
Sisters and Brothers,
Texas is long overdue for bold progressive leadership. Global warming (aka "climate change" ) is an immediate threat to our existence. Scientist have warned us about global warming for years while fossil fuel executives hid the finding for decades. Global warming is only getting worse. Droughts, floods, extreme heat, and super-storms are creating a humanitarian crisis around the World.
In Texas, many people have not recovered from Hurricane Harvey. Puerto Rico has been abandoned after Hurricane Maria leveled the island, and over 4,000 people have died due to lack of urgency by elected officials to send aid and rebuild their power grid. In California, wildfires have decimated communities leaving people homeless and causing adverse health complications.
In places around the World, it's more of the same, if not much worse. Everyone feels the effects of global warming. We are witnessing a mass migration of refugees, due in part to the climate crisis which causes water and food scarcity, poverty, and famine.
We have less than 12 years to drastically reverse the effects of global warming, but Sen. John Cornyn and other elected officials voted against bills that curb our fossil fuel dependency. Sen. John Cornyn was a top recipient of donations from the Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution industry, receiving a total of $310,900 from Oil and Gas PACs in the 2017-2018 election cycle (Open Secrets. Sen. John Cornyn - Campaign Finance Summary. Retrieved January 3, 2019).
Today, I make the commitment to support a Green New Deal in the Senate and continue to honor the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge I made in 2018.
Pleased make a donation to our grassroots campaign. Help us reach our monthly goal of $20K to travel the huge state of Texas. We want to empower people across Texas to boldly support our campaign.
I appreciate your support as we continue to build our 2020 grassroots campaign.
In Solidarity,
Sema
December 29, 2018
Our 2018 campaign was groundbreaking and we're just getting started.
Sisters and Brothers,
Our 2018 campaign was groundbreaking and we're just getting started. We will continue to be boldly progressive and unapologetically human. We will continue to talk about the issues that are important, have necessary conversations, organize and strategize to not only win this upcoming election, but to reform the political system to prioritize people over corporate interest.
We look forward to accomplishing so much more and we invite you to join our grassroots campaign!
In Solidarity,
Sema
September 26, 2018
End the Assault on Our Rights
Dear Supporter,
Senator John Cornyn is among the Republican men on the Senate Judiciary Committee who voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. It should come as no surprise that, despite new and controversial evidence about nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Mr. Cornyn has dismissed women’s accounts of sexual molestation by Kavanaugh as nothing more than “smear tactics”. His actions reflect a deliberate disregard for women’s safety and rights.
After weeks of refusing to release Kavanaugh’s files, Sen. Cornyn now has joined his Republican colleagues in intimidating and discrediting Kavanaugh’s accusers before they have an opportunity to testify at his confirmation hearing about their traumatic experiences. The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote for Friday, September 28, 2018, regardless of whether the women’s testimony warrants further investigation. Sen. Mitch McConnell has stated that the Republicans will confirm Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court.
Sen. Cornyn was a former Texas Supreme Court Judge and Attorney General of Texas, where the public entrusted him to exercise independent judgment and to protect victims’ rights. Cornyn’s predisposition to fast track the Kavanaugh confirmation for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, even before hearing witnesses’ testimony, is a violation of the voters’ trust in electing him to the Senate.
Republican Senators have no regard for our rights from healthcare to women's rights. The Kavanaugh Confirmation process has been an overt and willful rubber-stamp, disrespectful of constituents, democracy, and the Constitution.
Here’s what’s at stake if Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed as SCOTUS:
Healthcare
Reproductive Justice
Human Rights
Education
Immigration
Marriage Equality
Labor Rights
Environmental Laws
Tribal Sovereignty
Democracy
It is difficult to remove bad politicians from office when they are heavily-funded by organizations and influential donors who are committed to restricting our personal rights and liberties. Our campaign to replace Senator John Cornyn in 2020 has begun, but we need your help and support to win. Please visit our website and let us know if you’re available to volunteer. It's never too early to make a donation to our campaign to ensure that your rights are protected.
In Solidarity,
Sema Hernandez
Candidate for U.S. Senate 2020
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