Texas neurosurgeon leaves patient on the table to vote

Neurosurgeon Venita Simpson left a patient on the operating table to cast her ballot in Houston on Tuesday.

“They’re fine,” she told The Washington Post, laughing. “I’ve got the residents closing.”

{mosads}A surgeon at MD Anderson, a renowned hospital, Simpson told the Post she was voting for Democrats, including Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) for Senate, which she doesn’t always do.

“Beto, that’s my guy,” she said. “He came to my church two Sundays ago. What got me excited about Beto was that video of him that went viral, where they asked him about the football players kneeling. I was just like, ‘You know what? He doesn’t care what anybody says. He’s just going to go with his gut.’”

O’Rourke was defeated on Tuesday, but came closer than many observers predicted in a red state like Texas. And Democrats picked up some key House seats in the state, including those of GOP Reps. Pete Sessions and John Culberson.