Early voting for the March 6 Joint Primary Election begins on Tuesday, February 20 and ends Friday, March 2. Polling sites include the Bexar County Elections Department and scores of other locations. This year’s primary presents a challenge to Bexar County voters who must cast ballots on scores of races including governor, U.S. senator, congressional…
More LGBTQ Texans than ever are running for office, magazine says
By Rishika Dugyala, The Texas Tribune January 24, 2018 A self-described “gun-toting, truck-driving, true Republican,” Shannon McClendon avidly followed state politics and served as a five-time appointee for various boards under former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. But until now, she never pushed herself to run for elected office. “I’m a Republican who happens to be…
Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez Officially Enters Governor’s Race
Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez has made it official: She is resigning her office to run for Governor of Texas in the Democratic primary. Valdez’s announcement came just a week after news outlets in North Texas had prematurely reported her resignation ahead of a likely campaign. Her announcement on December 6 is the real thing.…
Meet the owner of a gay bar who is challenging Texas Gov. Abbott
By Alex Samuels, The Texas Tribune July 24, 2017 Jeffrey Payne thinks Texas is ready to turn blue. That’s why the openly gay, 49-year-old Dallas Democrat who owns five businesses — including The Dallas Eagle, a popular gay bar — is doing what some might say is impossible: attempting to win the governor’s seat by…
Gay Dallas Businessman Throws Hat into Governor’s Race
A gay businessman from Dallas announced on Friday, July 14 that he has filed the necessary paperwork to initiate a run for Governor of Texas as a Democrat, becoming the first candidate to challenge incumbent Greg Abbott in the 2018 race. Jeffrey Payne, owner of the the Dallas Eagle and four other businesses, told KTVT-TV…