AUSTIN, Texas -- The coronavirus continues to freeze plans for in-person campaigning for candidates. But there is a July 14 runoff election in Texas and the battle for U.S. Senate is at the top of the Democratic ballot.

Longtime state senator Royce West of Dallas and former Air Force helicopter pilot MJ Hegar are trying to win their party's nomination to take on Republican John Cornyn in the fall. Hegar finished first in the 12-way March primary ahead of West.

She also remains the top Democratic fundraiser, but West is leaning on his experience and recent endorsements.

“I’ve readied myself to be the candidate of the Democratic Party. You begin to look at experience between the two, there is no real issue that I’m not more experienced than my opponent,” West said in an interview on Capital Tonight.  “Most trusted Democrats in the state of Texas support Royce West for the United States Senate.”

When asked about the ongoing legal battle over mail-in voting in the state during the pandemic, West said if the courts ultimately decide not to expand who can use an absentee ballot, he’ll encourage voters to vote early.

“If it plays out that way, then we want to make certain that people throughout the state of Texas vote early and they go to locations where they don’t have huge lines. And the earlier you vote, the better off you’re going to be,” he said.

Click the video link above to watch our full interview with West, including his take on the federal and state response to COVID-19.