Against Fresh Faces in Race to Unseat John Cornyn, Dallas' Royce West Says His Record Sets Him Apart

AUSTIN — The first time Royce West won an election, he made some history in 1974 by becoming the first black class president at the University of Texas at Arlington. Since then, he’s continued to leave his mark across North Texas.West secured the funding for Dallas’ first public university and law school during his 26-year career as a Democratic state senator. He enjoyed a star-studded legal career, hobnobbing with Dallas Cowboys. A slice of his life was given the silver screen treatment when he was portrayed in the movie Carter High.The 66-year-old Dallas power broker has made winning look easy. Ever since he ran for state Senate in 1992 and won, he’s been on a glide path to victory, barely breaking a sweat every four years as he dominated opponents — if he even drew a challenger. That all changes now. West — well-known in Dallas-Fort Worth political circles — is facing a crowd of Democrats eager to oust U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the longtime Republican incumbent from San Antonio.These candidates will use West’s lengthy record of votes to test his progressive credentials, during a time when Democrats across the nation are at odds over whether to back the old guard or follow a newer, more unyielding brand of liberals. Meanwhile, the Cornyn camp is framing West as the candidate to beat.  Continue reading...