AUSTIN, Texas — Texas' March primary election is in just a few weeks, and candidates have been making their way across the state to ensure voters head to the polls.
On Saturday, the group Texas Democratic Women hosted its 37th annual convention, with one portion of the event centered on showcasing candidates vying for a chance to flip the state's red seats blue.
U.S. Senate candidate and current State Sen. Roland Gutierrez reiterated his message to the crowded room about the importance of reproductive rights, gun rights and other hot topics.
"We have a Republican governor who will not do Medicaid expansion. All of those things affect a a woman's ability to be able to raise her family, to be able to do well for her family," Gutierrez said. "All of those things have been held at the hands of the Republican Party that has controlled the state for the last 30 years."
When it comes to the candidates in the race with him, Gutierrez said the main priority is pushing Republican incumbent Ted Cruz, out.
"Ted Cruz didn't break Texas, but he certainly embodies everything that's wrong with it. And the attack on women in Texas has started with people like Ted Cruz, who don't care about anybody but themselves," Gutierrez said. "There's two theories of this case in this Senate race on the Democratic side – one that says that we have to hold hands with the Republicans ... That's not me. I'm a progressive and I don't apologize for it."
Heli Rodriguez Prilliman is one of two women running against Gutierrez in the Democratic Primary, along with Meri Gomez.
Rodriguez Prilliman described herself as an entrepreneur and a working mother from Stephenville, Texas, which is located about 80 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
"I'm from rural Texas, and so I'm serving myself up on a platter for Texas. And, literally, I'm here to fight for women," Rodriguez Prilliman said.
Rodriguez Prilliman said the women in the race should have more opportunities, referencing Gutierrez, frontrunner Colin Allred and Carl Sherman being the only three candidates invited to a recent Senate debate hosted by the AFL-CIO.
"It's kind of absurd that you wouldn't even include women in that debate. You have people who are again speaking from, 'Oh, you know, I'm worried about my daughters, I'm worried about my mom or sister,' or whatever, and it's like you haven't lived it," Prilliman said. "If we put Colin Allred or Roland Gutierrez at the top of the ticket, it's going to be a shouting match between male candidates yet again."
Lori Broughton, who came to listen to all candidates, told KVUE that although she wishes she could hear each of them speak more than the allotted two minutes they were given, she felt encouraged.
"We are willing to call our support up from the grassroots to get them elected," Broughton said. "We are having our rights abused by the Republicans that are in office."
The primary election will be held on March 5.