TEXAS — Democratic Senate candidate MJ Hegar has conceded the race to Sen. John Cornyn. 

Cornyn, a Republican, consistently led Hegar by single digits in the polls leading up to the election.

Cornyn, who was elected Texas attorney general in 1998, has served as the senior United States senator for Texas since 2002. In addition, he was the Republican Senate majority whip for the 114^th and 115^th Congresses.

Cornyn currently sits on the Senate Finance, Judiciary, and Intelligence Committees. During a debate with Hegar in October, Cornyn indicated he does not support a national lockdown in order to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Cornyn was born in Houston and graduated from Trinity University in 1973. He also obtained degrees from St. Mary’s University School of Law and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Prior to being elected to the Texas Supreme Court, Cornyn served as a district judge in San Antonio for six years.

Hegar is a United States Air Force veteran and a teacher. In December 2009, she was awarded the Purple Heart after her helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan during her third tour there.

In 2017, Hegar ran for U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’ 31^st congressional district. She lost to incumbent Republican John Carter by about 3%.

Hegar obtained degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and has taught there.

During her 2020 campaign, Hegar has focused on her support for the Affordable Care Act, protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and the creation of a public health insurance option.