Victory Fund Endorses Texas State and Local LGBTQ Candidates for 2018

The LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed candidates from across the nation in positions from school board to the U.S. Congress. Candidates Rick Neal of Ohio and Katie Hill of California received Game Changer endorsements and are running for seats considered crucial to winning a pro-equality majority in the U.S. Congress this year. Rick would be the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from the state of Ohio, and Katie would become the youngest person serving in Congress if elected.

The following Texas candidates were also endorsed in state and local races – having demonstrated to Victory Fund both their viability and their commitment to pushing for LGBTQ equality once in office.

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    Mary Gonzalez

    Texas House of Representatives

    Texas

    Mary is the first openly pansexual elected official in the U.S.

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    Julie Johnson – Texas House of Representatives

    Carrollton, Texas

    Julie will be a powerful voice for LGBTQ people in Texas

• 

  Steven Kirkland- Texas Supreme Court

  Harris County, Texas

  Steven will be the first openly LGBTQ statewide official in Texas history

• 

  Jim Kovach

  Harris County Civil Court at Law

  Texas

  Jim will be a critical LGBTQ voice on the Harris County bench

• 

  Shannon McClendon

  Texas State Senate

  Shannon will be the first openly LGBTQ Republican in the Texas State Legislature.

• 

  Beau Miller

  190th Judicial District Court

  Houston, Texas

  Beau is running to unseat an anti-LGBT and anti-choice judge in Houston

• 

  Game Changer – Gina Ortiz Jones

  U.S. House of Representatives

  Texas

  Gina will be the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from Texas.

• 

  Jerry Simoneaux -Judge Probate Court 1  Houston, Texas

  Jerry is running to unseat a judge who refuses to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies

• 

  Susan Steeg – Travis County Justice of the Peace Texas

  Susan will be an LGBTQ voice in a low equality state.

• 

  Fran Watson – State Senate Texas

  Fran will become the first openly LGBTQ and the third black woman elected to the Texas Senate

“Our candidates can transform the political landscape in 2018 – bringing a pro-equality majority to the U.S. Congress, electing a tidal wave of LGBTQ candidates across Texas, and finally securing LGBTQ leadership in the historically LGBTQ cities of San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale,” said Victory Fund President & CEO Annise Parker. “These 19 newly endorsed candidates join 45 others who are running for office to push forward equality and better the lives of all of their constituents. We have an unprecedented opportunity to dramatically increase LGBTQ representation in local governments, state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, and Victory Fund is committed to ensuring it is fully realized.”