Senator John Cornyn has drawn another challenger for the 2020 Texas U.S. Senate election.
State Sen. Royce West, a Democrat, announced his candidacy for Cornyn’s seat on Monday. West’s campaign launch comes less than a year after the Dallas Democrat won re-election to his State Senate seat in November 2018. West has served in the state’s upper chamber since 1993.
In his campaign announcement, West told supporters that he will take his experience in the legislature to work on the campaign trail as he seeks to oust the incumbent Cornyn.
“I’m battled tested,” West said in his announcement. “You’ve seen me in battle, and I’m ready today to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate.”
West joins an already crowded Democratic field for 2020, which includes former U.S. Representative Chris Bell, Houston Councilwoman Amanda Edwards, former congressional candidate MJ Hegar, Sema Hernandez, Michael Cooper, and Adrian Ocegueda. Some Democrats have also called upon former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke or Secretary Julian Castro to drop their presidential bids and run for the Senate, although neither has made any indication that they will do so.
The Democratic primary race will be decided in March of next year.
