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U.S. Senate Democratic primary debate on Feb. 18

The debate will air on TV and on KIII's digital and social platforms on Feb. 18 starting at 6:30 p.m.

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: The attached video is from the heathcare portion of Tuesday's debate. To see the full debate, visit the KVUE YouTube page.

As part of its Emmy-winning Vote Texas initiative, KVUE hosted a debate on Tuesday, Feb. 18 between the U.S. Senate Democratic candidates running for incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn's seat in the upcoming election. 

Eleven of the 12 Democrats participated in the debate. The candidates were: Former U.S. Representative Chris Bell, Michael Cooper, Amanda Edwards, Jack Daniel Foster, Annie “Mama” Garcia, Victor Harris, MJ Hegar, Sema Hernandez, Adrian Ocegueda, Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, and State Sen. Royce West.

KVUE reporter Ashley Goudeau, Texas Tribune political reporter Patrick Svitek and KUT reporter Ashley Lopez moderated the debate, which aired from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on KVUE.com, KVUE's YouTube channel, KVUE's Facebook page and KVUE's Twitter page. KVUE-TV carried the first half-hour of the debate.

WATCH LIVE: KVUE hosts U.S. Senate Texas Democratic primary debate – Feb. 18, 2020 | KVUE

KUT, Austin's NPR station, broadcast the debate on KUT 90.5.

The debate comes weeks before the March 3 Texas primary election, which will determine which of those Democratic candidates will face the Republican challenger – most likely Sen. Cornyn – in the November general election.

RELATED: 

Texas This Week: Amanda Edwards, Candidate for U.S. Senate

Texas This Week: Victor Harris, candidate for U.S. Senate

Texas This Week: MJ Hegar, Candidate for U.S. Senate

Texas This Week: Adrian Ocegueda, candidate for U.S. Senate

Texas This Week: Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, Candidate for U.S. Senate

Texas This Week: State Sen. Royce West running for U.S. Senate

Texas This Week: Chris Bell, Candidate for U.S. Senate

Texas This Week: Michael Cooper, candidate for U.S. Senate

The debate was also streamed live across all 12 of TEGNA’s Texas stations’ digital properties: WFAA (Dallas), KHOU (Houston), KENS (San Antonio), KVUE, KCEN (Waco-Temple), KAGS (College Station), KYTX (Tyler), KIII (Corpus Christi), KBMT-KJAC (Beaumont), KWES (Odessa). KXVA (Abilene) and KIDY (San Angelo). 

“Our mission at KVUE is to make Austin better, and we have a responsibility to help educate voters on where the candidates stand on critical issues facing our community,” said Kristie Gonzales, president and general manager at KVUE. “KVUE is proud to partner with our TEGNA station colleagues across Texas, the Texas Tribune and KUT to give voters access to the candidates.” 

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