El Paso Elects Openly Gay State Lawmaker

El Paso voters have elected Mary E. Gonzalez, an openly gay woman, to the Texas House of Representatives, Gay Politics reports.

Gonzalez’s victory in the Democratic primary all but secures her seat representing the state’s District 75 (she faces no Republican opponent in the general election).

"I do think that people cared more about the issues than my personal life," Gonzalez told the El Paso Times. "People cared more about having a legislator who was going to fight for education, make sure people had jobs and put El Paso first."

Via Gay Politics:

Gonzalez will become just the second openly LGBT individual to serve in the Texas legislature.  (The first, former State Rep. Glen Maxey, served from 1991 to 2003.)  Her win will shrink the number of state legislatures – currently 17 – with no openly LGBT lawmakers.

Other Victory Fund-backed candidates winning their primary elections in Texas Tuesday include Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, and Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. [...]

This is a big victory for Mary, for El Paso and for Texas,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, which endorsed Gonzalez and supported her campaign. “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.”