LGBTQ candidates key to potential Democratic takeover of the state House
Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed two more non-incumbent openly LGBTQ Texas state House candidates in what could be a transformational year for the state legislature.
Eric Holguin and Ann Johnson received the organization’s endorsement, joining previously endorsed non-incumbent candidates Eliz Markowitz and Shawn Terry. Markowitz advanced to a January runoff after placing second in a special election race earlier this month. Holguin, Johnson and Terry will be on the Democratic primary ballot this March. If the four non-incumbents are elected and all five incumbent LGBTQ state legislators reelected, LGBTQ representation in the Texas state House will increase from five to nine members.
All four non-incumbent candidates Victory Fund endorsed are running for seats currently held by Republicans and considered critical to a Democratic takeover of the state House. While Victory Fund is non-partisan, the Republican-led Texas state legislature has introduced dozens of anti-LGBTQ bills in the past several years. A Democratic majority in the state House would almost certainly kill any anti-LGBTQ legislative efforts.
“The political winds are changing in Texas – and openly LGBTQ state legislative candidates will play a significant role in determining whether Democrats take back the state House in 2020,” said former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, now President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “After years of relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community by this state legislature, it would be poetic justice for LGBTQ candidates to be the leaders who deliver a fair-minded majority.”
Victory Fund has endorsed 66 openly LGBTQ candidates for 2020 so far. More information about the 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.
