“From surviving against all the odds when her helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan, to her work opening up jobs for women in the military, MJ Hegar has never backed down from a challenge. MJ’s unparalleled commitment to serving her country and the tireless work she has done to build a strong, Texas-first campaign makes this race one to watch in November,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján.
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To: Interested Parties
From: Amanda Sherman, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: May 22, 2018
RE: The Case Against Rep. John Carter
When it comes to working on behalf of the people of Texas’s 31st Congressional District, John Carter has been missing in action. For more than 15 years in Congress, Rep. Carter has happily cashed his taxpayer-funded paycheck while failing to do his most basic job – working on behalf of the people who elected him. Instead, he ignores constituents, votes to endanger the affordable health care they depend on and votes in lockstep with Washington Republican Establishment.
Carter will face the first competitive race of his career with a challenge from MJ Hegar, a former search and rescue pilot who served three tours in Afghanistan. When her helicopter was shot down by the Taliban, she rescued her passengers despite being injured. MJ received a Purple Heart and is the second woman ever to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor. MJ later worked to expand opportunities for women in the military. She has shown her determination and fight, which is what Texans are looking for from a representative.
The people of Texas’s 31st Congressional District are fed up with having no one fighting on their behalf in Washington DC. MJ Hegar has never backed down from a tough job and is ready to get to work finding solutions to the problems facing Texas families, seniors, and veterans.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Headline: “Where’s Carter?” [Hill Country News, 9/7/17]
“Hegar is part of a wave of female candidates emphasizing personal toughness in bids for the House this year.”[Washington Post, 5/17/18]
Headline: Hegar outraises opponents for Congressional bid [Temple Daily Telegram, 4/16/18]
“This fast-growing district, not far from the state capital of Austin, is the type of white-collar district where Trump has lost ground. The president won just 53 percent here, 7 points worse than Mitt Romney did four years earlier. If Hegar raises enough money to tell her story, her biography alone has the potential to win support from some crossover Republicans.” [National Journal, 3/20/18]
Rep. John Carter: Missing in Action
Avoids Meeting with Texans
Rep. Carter has built up quite the reputation for unresponsiveness and outright avoidance of people in Texas’s 31st Congressional District. When almost 300 constituents put together a town hall, John Carter was MIA. When a local paper tried to contact Rep. Carter over 15 times in 2 months, he was MIA. When dozens of local high school students marched to Rep. Carter’s office demanding changes to our gun laws to make their schools safer, he was once again MIA.
Living Well on Taxpayers’ Dime
John Carter’s 15 years in Congress and the over $2.3 million in a taxpayer-funded salary have turned him into just another member of the Washington Republican Establishment. He is enjoying all the perks that come with the job, taking $112,000 in taxpayer-funded travel to dozens of countries including France, Italy, and Jamaica. While living well on the taxpayer dime, John Carter has lost touch with the Texans he is supposed to be representing.
Failed to Protect Texans Health Care
Instead of standing up for working Texans’ access to affordable health care, John Carter ignored their concerns and instead did precisely what the Washington Republican Establishment told him to do. With his vote, he would have taken health care away from 48,500 people in Texas 31st Congressional District, raised their premiums, imposed an age tax on seniors, and done nothing to lower the price of prescription drugs. Then, with his vote for the GOP Tax bill, he succeeded in gutting the Affordable Care Act, which independent analysts say will raise healthcare premiums on hardworking people in 2019.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
It is clear that John Carter’s 15 years as part of the Washington Republican Establishment has made him complacent. Between his refusals to meet with people he represents, his low fundraising numbers, and support of a toxic Republican agenda, there is significant opportunity for MJ Hegar, a strong Democratic challenger, to win this district.
MJ Hegar has proven time and time again that she doesn’t back down from a challenge and has what it takes to overcome the odds and succeed, which is exactly what people are looking for in a representative. A poll from December 2017 showed Hegar trailing by 6 points, 46-40. With a strong military presence in the northern part of the district, MJ Hegar’s military background and record of service will appeal to voters who may not typically vote for Democrats. In addition, her strong campaign operation, which outraised John Carter, will give her the tools she needs make this a competitive race.
Texas’s 31st Congressional District is comprised of many of the fastest-growing and demographically changing suburbs outside Austin, which in recent years has been moving away from Republicans.
A weak and unprepared incumbent, a strong challenger in MJ Hegar, and rapidly changing demographics make this seat a strong pickup opportunity for Democrats in November.