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Score one for our team—and in Texas no less!
Last night Mary E. Gonzalez won the Democratic primary to represent District 75 in the Texas House of Representatives. She’ll face no Republican opponent during the November election, which means Gonzalez will win the El Paso seat and become the state’s only openly LGBT lawmaker.
More after the jump!
Gonzalez, a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin, won a three-person Democratic primary race to fill the House seat that is being vacated by state Rep. Inocente "Chente" Quintanilla.
Speaking on her victory, Gonzalez says, "We're ready to start working. There is so much I have to get done, and we are ready to get to work."
Gonzalez’ victory will make her the second openly LGBT individual to serve in the Texas legislature. She follows former State Rep. Glen Maxey, who served from 1991 to 2003.
Gonazalez continues, "We're very proud of the accomplishments that this campaign has reached, but I never really ran as a gay candidate or as a woman candidate.”
"I ran as a candidate who cares and really wanted to make a difference as the most qualified candidate for District 75. I do think that people cared more about the issues than my personal life. People cared more about having a legislator who was going to fight for education, make sure people had jobs and put El Paso first."
Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund says, “This is a big victory for Mary, for El Paso and for Texas. The people of El Paso will be represented by a talented and committed fighter who knows how to get things done in Austin. And LGBT Texans will be represented by an authentic voice in the Capitol, standing up and speaking out for fairness and freedom for all.”
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