Lesbian Texas lawmaker Ann Johnson wins reelection amid attacks on LGBTQ+ rights

Democratic state Rep. Ann Johnson, an openly lesbian lawmaker who has pushed to expand LGBTQ+ protections in Texas, has won reelection to the state House of Representatives, defeating Republican challenger Mike Michna.

Johnson secured another term representing Houston’s 134th House District, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race at 11:57 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. With over 95 percent of votes counted, Johnson led Michna 68.87 percent to 31.13 percent.

The result preserves an openly LGBTQ+ voice in the Texas legislature, where Republican lawmakers have repeatedly advanced legislation restricting transgender rights and limiting protections for LGBTQ+ residents.

Johnson, an attorney and former prosecutor, was first elected to the Texas House in 2020. Her political career has included efforts to address sexual violence, improve access to health care, and protect civil rights.

She has also advocated for removing discriminatory laws from the state’s books.

In May 2025, Johnson was among the lawmakers involved in advancing legislation to repeal Texas’ longstanding prohibition on consensual same-sex sexual activity.

The law has been unenforceable since the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 2003 ruling in Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down criminal prohibitions on private, consensual sexual activity between adults.

Nevertheless, the statute remained on the books more than two decades later.

As The Advocate previously reported, efforts to repeal the provision represented an attempt to remove a discriminatory remnant of Texas law, even though the Supreme Court had already rendered it unconstitutional. The repeal bill passed a key House vote, but ultimately did not clear the legislature.

Johnson’s reelection comes as LGBTQ+ Texans continue confronting restrictions affecting their daily lives.

In recent years, Republican lawmakers have pursued measures targeting gender-affirming medical care, transgender students, and the recognition of gender identity in state documents. Texas currently bans trans youth participation on sports teams aligning with their gender identity as well as gender-affirming care for minors, among other restrictions.

Those disputes have extended into elections, where restrictions on updating identification documents have raised concerns about the challenges transgender voters may face when presenting identification at polling places.

The political climate has also placed increased attention on the relatively small number of openly LGBTQ+ lawmakers serving in the Republican-controlled Texas legislature.

Johnson represents a Houston-area district that includes Montrose, a neighborhood with a longstanding LGBTQ+ community, as well as Bellaire and West University Place.

Her reelection ensures that an openly LGBTQ+ legislator will continue participating in debates over civil rights, health care, and access to public services.

It also highlights the political differences within Texas, where Democratic lawmakers representing urban districts have continued advocating for LGBTQ+ equality despite the Republican Party’s statewide dominance.