Washington, DC – Gina Ortiz Jones bested four challengers in the Democratic primary for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District Tuesday, putting her on-track to become the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from the state. In 2018 as the Democratic nominee, Jones was just 926 votes short of defeating Republican incumbent Rep. Will Hurd, who is retiring. Jones is now considered the favorite to win the open battleground seat in November.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about Jones’ primary victory:
“Texans have never sent an openly LGBTQ person to represent them in Congress, but I am confident Gina will end that come November. Gina speaks openly and eloquently about her experiences and perspectives as an LGBTQ woman, first-generation immigrant and a veteran, and that authenticity resonates with voters. Gina’s primary victory puts a crack in the lavender ceiling that has held back LGBTQ Congressional candidates in Texas for generations – and that ceiling will shatter on Election Night. We have an opportunity to double the number of openly LGBTQ members of Congress this election cycle and Gina’s primary victory makes it that much more likely.”
More information about Victory Fund and its candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
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LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.
