Texas candidate loses after cross-dressing photos surface

A candidate who stuck to his campaign despite the revelation of photos showing him wearing dresses has lost his bid for office in Texas runoff elections that also determined GOP candidates for five congressional district elections. Sam Walls, 64, who sought a seat in the Texas house, had said he would not give in to "blackmail" from whomever circulated the photos, saying that individual tried to use "very old, personal information" to force him out of the race. Walls, a businessman, had seemed the favorite over real estate broker Rob Orr, but GOP leaders urged him to withdraw after the pictures surfaced, and on Tuesday Orr won with 4,630 votes, or 60%, to Walls's 3,031. "Some people have said they feel sorry for me, but let me tell you how wonderful it has been for me," Walls said after his loss. "If you have not had the opportunity to find out that all your friends are true friends, then I feel sorry for you." Walls said his family had "dealt with" the cross-dressing issue, and he apologized to supporters for any embarrassment caused by "a small part of my personal past."