Lupe Valdez Loses Bid to Become Governor of Texas

Greg Abbott, the homophobic Republican governor of Texas, is projected to win reelection over Democrat Lupe Valdez, a Latina lesbian.

Only 2 percent of precincts were reporting, but shortly after 8 p.m. Central time, the Associated Press called the race for Abbott, 54 percent to 44 percent.

Abbott has a long record of anti-LGBTQ actions, both as governor and in his previous post as Texas attorney general. He has fought marriage equality and championed an anti-transgender "bathroom bill," although he claims that will not be a priority of his in his next term.

Valdez, the former sheriff of Dallas County, supported expanding health care, improving public education, creating jobs with a livable wage, and protecting LGBTQ rights. She would have been the first out lesbian to be governor of any U.S. state.