 Hello everyone. I am here with a true progressive from the state of Texas. Her name is Sema Hernandez She's currently running to be the Democratic Party nominee in 2020 You all know her from 2018 when she actually ran against Beto O'Rourke in the Democratic Party primary And she actually got 23.7% of the vote. So she's surging. She's a strong progressive perhaps the true progressive from Texas And I have her on the show to talk about her 2020 campaign. Sema. Thank you so much for joining the podcast Now, thank you for inviting me. I'm such a pleasure to be here Thank you. Thank you. It means a lot and I've been really interested in your campaign because Here's the thing there's a lot of people that ran in 2018 that are now choosing to run again and After seeing and hearing from all of you about how difficult it is to run for Congress and you ran for the Senate My question is what made you want to run again because I mean you have to be tired at this point Well Yes, it is exhausting But I truly believe that the people of Texas and the people of this country and around the world are worth fighting for and running on a piece Campaign on a platform that is unapologetically human and focusing on the issues that affect all of us That's most important and being a single mom of four kids It's certainly not an easy task to do but one that I'm willing to do because it's it's the moral obligation I'm choosing to take on for all the right reasons Yeah, and that's absolutely commendable Um, can you talk about what your core issues are because the way that I always see it is if I were to run for congress Or get elected I wouldn't know what to focus on because there's so many things that we have to fix So what do you think would be like the three primary things that you would be fighting for in congress? Environmental justice is one that we need to focus on extremely I'm a fence line resident here in Pasadena where it's a A condensed part of the petrochemical industry in the state of texas and so that's something that I would focus on along with having a Uh a booming economy that is surrounding Or is is created around the green new deal and healthcare And of course, you know ending the war economy is something that's extremely important to To this country and to the world because we are the biggest contributor to greenhouse emissions that contribute to global warming Yeah, and that's absolutely commendable because I like this because you know when people run for congress for the senate for the house A lot of people assume well, you know, that's not going to be my representative So, you know, maybe I shouldn't donate if I live in oregon, for example But the great thing is that you're fighting for these things that as progressives we all care very deeply about And one thing that made me a little bit angry is that a lot of people kind of look at Beto O'Rourke And they say oh, well, he's running for president. Why not just run for the senate? But we already have someone running for the senate who's actually a real progressive Who supports medicare for all you're the real deal So the problem though is after Beto O'Rourke initially kind of signaled support for your campaign He then kind of flipped and signaled support for the corporate democrat in the race Talk a little bit about that because one theme that we're seeing around the country as more and more progressives run Is that anytime they start to pick up momentum the establishment steps in and throws in their own corporate democrat To try to stop the progressive from winning talk about that dynamic dynamic here because it's absolutely something that's prevalent in this race Yeah, well in 2018 we saw that our campaign was was not really taken seriously But you know, we fought really hard and we came in at 23 point whatever percent and we did it on $4,000 campaigning statewide Wow Huge and it was unheard of it was remarkable and it was literally groundbreaking what we did as the first time candidate ever Running as a latina decolonized indigenous person Supporting a very progressive platform. It was unheard of so then we we took that and we met with O'Rourke And you know, we tried to figure out how we can work together But the one thing I wanted it was medicare for all for him to sign it while he was in congress and he refused So we went back and forth and in that process I joined the poor people's campaign became the texas co-chair for the texas poor people's campaign organized and Trained people for civil disobedience and did all that stuff and then came back to the table with O'Rourke And he finally said I'll support medicare for all and he said to me. Well, what are you going to be doing? So I'm gonna run against John Cornyn. I just reiterated it to him Back in september after I gave him the endorsement after he said that he would support medicare for all And for the first time ever his his polling went up Um, and you know since he started running for office against Ted Cruz So we we realized that our endorsement Carried a lot of weight specifically in our marginalized communities for them to come out and support him So when I saw that he Supported my primary opponent who was handpicked by Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi It baffled me because the last thing that we need is more incrementalism more war We need a an actual healthcare plan that takes care of every single human being in this country And um, I know that these other candidates that are running for office That are being propped up by corporate by the corporate establishment are not going to support these key pillars of our Of our progressive platform. So yes, you know, it's it's something that happens and they're just you know playing uh politics with our lives and um As many people in this state of texas and around this world We're sick and tired of people playing with our lives like that like we're expendable Just for their own profit in their own gain Yeah, that's the most frustrating thing. I think because you see That there's this real urgency for a number of issues I mean people are dying 30 to 40 thousand every single year due to a lack of health insurance We have less than 12 years now to act when it comes to climate change according to the ipcc So this wheeling and dealing for endorsements and whatnot it just People see it and it comes off as disingenuous and you've always been the person who has spoken truth to power in texas and I'm really happy that you're running again because I feel like if anyone is going to Represent progressives. It's going to be you. It's not going to be a battle of war Because I think he's kind of shown his cards now in that he's not really too progressive And he's more career minded because he's running for president. I mean You could be running for president right now, right? But you're choosing to fight and take on john cornon Um, so I want to go back to what you said there because you said you raised 4 000, correct? Well, I raised a little bit over 4 000, but I actually literally campaigned on 4 000 dollars and you got 23.7 percent. I need people to just voters. Yes. I need people to realize What she accomplished that's almost unfathomable like it seems like That's impossible, but she did it So if you think that you know a progressive who doesn't take corporate PAC money is someone who you know Isn't ever going to win. Is it difficult? Yes, but can she win? I think she kind of demonstrated that she has what it takes if she got a quarter of a million voters With 4 000 like that's that's mind-blowing. It's absolutely mind-blowing. So imagine if she were the nominee What she could do Absolutely and the one thing that we we do want to reiterate as part of our campaign is in 2018 We didn't get any endorsements Uh, what we did is we got volunteers that stepped up and did the unthinkable And they were not paid they were Volunteering because they believed in our campaign our platform and our message And that's one of the most important things is to connect with your voter on on a personal level Because you're carrying their voice with you to the senate or to congress or to city council And one of the things that our campaign did in 2018 that is doing in 2020 Is we are working in coalition with other candidates across this country And locally across the state So I am teaming up with as many people as possible because my mission is to flip the state of texas blue And do it in a way that it's not just the seat i'm running for it's congressional seat city council county commissioners court We're gonna flip texas all the way and bring the progressive change that has been you literally in Waiting in the back for us to take charge and I myself am I'm really hopeful that something great is going to happen in 2020 and it doesn't necessarily have to do with our presidential election Which you know for anyone it would be great but It's it starts at home And I want to reiterate that that it starts at home in politics all politics is local And so we should be voting not just in presidential races or midterm elections But we should be voting for city and local elections as well. Yeah. Yeah Totally agree with that. Um, so let me put you on the spot a little bit So I want to throw out some policies and I want to get A yes or no or maybe on whether or not you support them And I think you probably already decided on all of these so this should be relatively easy medicare for all Yes tuition free public colleges and universities Yes Student loan debt cancellation Absolutely. Yes. Oh, I like that a green new deal Yes rank choice voting Yes Pardons for chelsea manning edward snowden reality winner and julien assange Hands down. Yes. Oh wait, actually that's more of a presidential But if you support that that's still good. Um, let's see here. Uh reparations for american descendants of slavery Yes Um, let's see public financing of all elections Absolutely. Yes. It would make it a hell of a lot easier for candidates like me to get elected as well Absolutely. I'm abolishing the electoral college Yes, ending the filibuster Ending the filibuster Maybe or filibuster reform like something in that sphere Yeah, I definitely don't want to stand around listening to teta cruise I'm getting flashbacks to that now. Um Let's see here a universal basic income that supplements our existing social safety net Hmm, can it be in conjunction? Um, yes. Yes. So it would be on top of what we already offer. So when it replace it, it would be um in addition to that Okay, in addition. Yes, because I think replacing it is something that it's a republic employee to get rid of social safety net Totally agree. You're you're basically like in my mind now. Um, okay a federal jobs guarantee Yes, uh closing all of our military bases and ending us imperialism Ending us imperialism. Yes closing military bases Yes, or transferring them in a different way transforming in a different way Instead of using them to deploy missiles and you know, set up bombs in the middle of the night in places like yemen um, or libya or israel or you know Palestine, I mean, that's that's something that is something I don't want to continue but um Revitalizing our military to actually do what there's what what we want them to do to Build a green new deal infrastructure rebuild places that we've destroyed And um help rebuild Puerto Rico. I mean, that's that's a no-brainer. Yeah, but definitely not for war Yeah, absolutely. And you kind of went to the next one that I wanted to ask um statehood for dc and guam and a referendum for Puerto Rico so they can have self determination Absolutely, that's great. That's great. So I think that's pretty much all of the main things the one last thing that I wanted to talk about was um protecting pro bds speech You don't necessarily have to endorse bd bds per se, but so long as you'd stand up for People that do support it and you wouldn't enforce these pro bds Um or these anti bds pledges that we're seeing around the country. Would you I would do both That's great. See I already do both so we're good Okay, so I'm getting the sense that you're not afraid to like take politically, um, almost volatile stances, which Is great Yeah, or around venezuela. I mean on venezuela. It's to leave them the hell alone They have elections and they did what they did and there's no need for us to meddle specifically To gain control of the petrochemical industry there Yeah, now, let me ask you one thing that isn't policy related, but it's more related to politics Let's say hypothetically speaking You're elected to congress and we all know that there's going to be immense pressure from you You're gonna get attacked by fox news every single day. You'll be the new target You know, you'll you'll maybe take away some attention from aoc um But you're going to be forced to try to work with the democratic party That's going to silence you by offering you deals offering to cosponsor pieces of legislation If you don't do this and that or don't endorse How do you work with that? Like how do you? How do you try to Subvert that pressure and still remain true to your progressive principles Well, if uh 2018 was any indication of what i'm willing to walk away from um, that that should be clear enough It's i'm i'm willing to walk away from any kind of celebrity status because i'm not a celebrity I'm running to be a public servant and I don't want to be treated as a celebrity Or and I don't want to be a target and try to try to um You know have have people like fuck or not people Uh corporations like fox news try to throw me off my game because I have other things to focus on And capitulating to the democratic party is something that i'm not going to do Um for any kind of political gain or any kind of money that they would throw my way Um, I'm I'm here and I'm running to be elected for the people and do what the people of texas want me to do And listen to the constituents across the country and hear what's most important to them and act on it Not just sit and wait until an opportunity strikes that I can capitalize on politically So i'm just gonna do the work. Love it. That's a perfect answer. So i'm sure many people will be sold Tell us what we can do if you want to help you. Um, if we live in texas And if we don't live in texas and tell us where we can go to donate to you Well, um, if you don't live in texas, uh, what are you waiting for like come on? Uh, let's let's I mean the more people that move to texas a better chance that we can get to overturn certain laws in the state of texas state legislature Uh, but yes, definitely go to sema for texas.com or go to act blue and look me up at sema Hernandez or sema for texas 2020 Um, donate whatever you can sign up to volunteer on our website But yeah sema for texas.com. That's where i'm at Okay, perfect. And are we able to phone bank for you if we live outside of texas? Absolutely phone bank. Um, I don't know do Host an event, uh, what do you call it? Um house party or something house party. Yeah, I can definitely, you know, make my way I Traveled across texas. I can travel across the country by car and video myself I just will never use the live stream when i'm at a dental office or I like it. I like it a lot and um, I think that you will keep people supporting you that way By not live streaming dental appointments or her cuts or whatever the case Yeah, no, I actually take pictures and I live stream at local coffee shops Business small business or family owned restaurants And I I want to to you know highlight the places in which I like to to hang out in Yeah, and that's normal Yeah, that's that's a little bit more normal though to to do normal things like that That's what a lot of organizers do is go to restaurants not necessarily the dentist's office So, um, thank you for being normal in that regard. So thank you so much. And let me just make a quick pitch for sema She was able to accomplish a lot for four thousand dollars Imagine what she could accomplish with ten thousand imagine what she accomplished if she was able to raise a hundred thousand So it's tough everybody is donating to presidential candidates currently and other candidates But if you could just chip in and donate whatever you can And if not money, maybe time You could get someone like sema in congress to represent you imagine The influence that she would have over the democratic party over the country It'd be phenomenal. So chip in and um help her out if you can so sema. Thank you so much for coming on the program No, thanks mike for having me here. We'll talk soon. Yes, we will