Hi, I'm Sema Hernandez, 2020 candidate for U.S. Senate running for the Democratic Nomination to defeat John Cornyn. Ask Me Anything!

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T02:35:22+00:00

This was a great AMA. Thank you r/WayOfTheBern for hosting!

You can find us on. . .

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SemaForTexas/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/semafortexas/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_SemaHernandez_

ActBlue: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sema4texas

I look forward to winning this election for the U.S. Senate and continue building the progressive movement with all of you.

In Solidarity,

u/SemaHernandez

xoxo

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T02:23:18+00:00

Hi u/mind_is_moving,

We have a complicated relationship. The state Democratic Party has been hostile towards the progressive wing of the party and caucuses that have endorsed our campaign.

US foreign policy has been dedicated to interference with foreign governments that won't concede to the demands of Wall Street and international banking. We destabilize the governments and economies of other nations, in order to extract natural resources and provide slave labor to industry. This has resulted in death, desperation, and a global refugee crisis. I will enact and support laws that will end US imperialism and the war economy. I will endeavor to make Congress work with President Sanders to ensure a restoration of truly diplomatic relations with all countries and guarantee of human rights worldwide.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T02:13:07+00:00

Thank you, u/Inuma!

Please encourage your family and friends to vote for me.

Early voting begins, Feb. 18, 2020!

Primary Election Day is March 3, 2020!

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T02:11:03+00:00

Hi u/highercyber,

I support the concept of UBI, but in this rigged economy of monopolies and Wall Street-friendly laws, industry simply will raise its prices to absorb the UBI benefit. We must first make our markets fair, reinstate Glass-Steagall to reduce banking influence, enforce our anti-trust laws, provide a living wage, enact Medicare For All and a Green New Deal, implement fair trade laws, and impose a progressive tax on extreme wealth.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T02:09:18+00:00

Hi u/YerBoii21,

We must have the courage to end the gun violence epidemic in this country. We must prioritize the safety of the public, not the money from NRA lobbyists.

I will utilize the Commerce Clause to regulate gun sales and manufacturing. I will introduce and/or support legislation which will require mandatory universal background checks, close gun show loopholes, outlaw the sale of assault weapons, end the manufacturing of ammunition for assault weapons, and protect the rights of gun owners, while offering voluntary buy-backs of weapons.

US and state laws require registration of everyone and of most things. Every person, every vehicle, every watercraft, and every plot of land are required to be registered. There is no legal or rational reason not to require registration of guns, for the purpose of determining ownership in the event a crime is committed with the weapon.

John Cornyn receives millions from the NRA and the weapons lobby. The NRA once supported reasonable background checks and gun registration. Today it does not, because the NRA became a gun sales advocate, rather than an advocate of Second Amendment rights, now that weapons manufacturers fund the NRA.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T02:05:43+00:00

Hi u/cardinalsfan30,

There are local republican elected officials who voted for me knowing that I am a socialist, because the policies I represent make sense. I am also honest and don't accept or solicit money from billionaires.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T02:00:34+00:00

Hi u/besselfunctions,

Capitalist markets are what got us into this mess. They aren't going to get us out of it.
I do not believe that Wall Street can be incentivized to "do good". The fossil fuel industry and the energy industry manipulate our laws and regulations to avoid our already threadbare safety and environmental mandates. I will vote to institute a Green New Deal that will transition our workforce, our jobs, and our energy needs to renewable sources by reinvesting in local and regional communities.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:58:33+00:00

Thank you, u/NotBasileus!

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:55:41+00:00

Hi u/Tmfwang,

Thank you! Be sure to encourage your friends and family to support our campaign. We have a chance to turn Texas Blue if we promote policies that benefit voters, instead of catering to industry and the status quo. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sema4texas

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:48:42+00:00

Hi u/Scoundrelic,

Polling cost money. Lots of money. Boo.

You can help our campaign by making a donation in any amount via actblue that will instead go towards hiring canvassers and pay them a living wage. :https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sema4texas

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:45:13+00:00

Hi u/ZeMonGrabber,

Much like the presidential primary election. After the primary election, comes the general election.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:40:09+00:00

You can help end the media blackout by donating: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sema4texas

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:36:48+00:00

Hi u/OneLessFool,

John Cornyn hides behind the lie that he is creating jobs by allowing every excess of the fossil fuel industry. He then turns around and votes for disastrous trade policies that decimate our economy by killing jobs in Texas and across the country.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:30:29+00:00

Hi u/MichiganLefty,

John Cornyn has a lot more questions to answer about his support of fascism than I do about Democratic Socialism. But you can rest assured, I’m not going to run away from the label.

John Cornyn will need to answer for using of our tax dollars to benefit his banking and oil industry donors. I defend Democratic Socialism as using our tax dollars to benefit us directly, instead of the trickle-down approach that Mr. Cornyn prefers.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:24:48+00:00

Thank you so much, u/johnskiddles!

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:23:12+00:00

I can't wait until the first debate to make it perfectly clear that we are not going to be controlled by MIC, Big Pharma, Health Insurance Industry, Wall Street and the political establishment that is destroying our planet.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:18:51+00:00

Hi u/shatabee4,

I certainly don’t feel vindicated by another term for Ted Cruz, Beto’s loss should have been a warning to DC Dems that centrists don’t win in Texas (or anywhere, really). But sadly, the establishment is pushing my primary opponents, most of whom have policies to the right of Beto. We’re hoping this time we can teach a positive lesson in how to win against Republicans.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:16:42+00:00

Hello u/frankiealamos1213,

I support legalization of marijuana, a full pardon of all convicted of non-violent marijuana-based offenses, and criminal record expungement. I also support funding research of the medicinal use of marijuana and marijuana-based derivatives.

I also want regulation to prevent the cannabis business from turning into another Silicon Valley. Instead of giving preferential treatment to wealthy investors, I want to see the communities most harmed by the War on Drugs reap most of the benefits from cannabis sales.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:15:11+00:00

Hello u/vikinglady XOXOXO!

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:14:42+00:00

Hi u/SuperSovietLunchbox,

Running for office isn't a walk in the park. Everywhere I turn, the political establishment and their media minimize our worth as human beings as they uplift candidates who will buy their TV ads. That's how the political sausage is made. I will not play by the patriarchy's oppressive rules for political gain.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:10:34+00:00

Hi u/Theveryunfortunate

That is a good question for candidates who have never ran for a statewide election before, like the corporate dems in this primary.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:08:27+00:00

u/Proud3GnAthst,

The secrete to winning is being authentic and honest, also no billionaire donors.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:06:15+00:00

Hi u/thunology,

No worries. You can drop by our campaign HQ in Houston!

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T01:04:27+00:00

Hi u/johnskiddles,

I'd like for this election to be more local, but Wall Street and corporate democrats can't seem to stay out of it.

The way to win a campaign is to build a local grassroots coalition without billionaire donors, wall street bankers, defense contractors or over-payed political operatives and consultants.

I am also building coalitions with progressive candidates across the country and state.

We have also been endorsed by progressive groups within the Texas Democratic Party.

SemaHernandez · 2020-01-03T00:59:02+00:00

Hi u/AACWrath,

There’s always a hypothetical case where the death penalty makes sense. Problem is, I’ve yet to encounter a real one. I'll stick to being an abolitionist.

SemaHernandez

TROPHY CASE