Biden had trailed in the polls leading up to election day, which pointed to Bernie Sanders as the frontrunner. By Alex Samuels, The Texas Tribune Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Texas presidential primary, continuing a stunning revival of his once-struggling campaign that has helped him solidify himself as one of the two…
Houston Area Gay Candidate Loses Runoff for Texas House Seat
Democrat Dr. Elizabeth Markowitz, an education specialist from the Houston suburb of Ft. Bend County, lost the January 28 runoff election for Texas House District 28 to Republican ultra conservative Gary Gates who defeated Markowitz by 16 percentage points, 58 percent to 42 percent. Gates will serve out the remaining term of incumbent representative Dr.…
Justin Rodriguez Is Back and Ready to Focus on Ideas, Not Ideology
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. On January 12, a carefully curated tableau vivant sat behind former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro when he announced his candidacy for U.S. president at the West Side’s Plaza Guadalupe. That multicultural tapestry represented many cultures and walks of life, but it also rewarded the city’s political elite…
Julián Castro Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee, Sets Jan. 12 Announcement
The former U.S. housing secretary and San Antonio mayor took another step toward a 2020 presidential run Wednesday. By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune SAN ANTONIO – Julián Castro is taking another step toward a 2020 presidential campaign. The former housing secretary and San Antonio mayor announced Wednesday that he has formed an exploratory committee,…
From the Archives: VICTORY! SA City Council Passes Nondiscrimination Ordinance
Originally published in QSanAntonio, September 5, 2013 (Editor’s note: Today marks the fifth anniversary of the passage of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance.) Despite loud and vocal opposition from Christian extremists, the San Antonio City Council on September 5 passed a nondiscrimination ordinance that includes protections for LGBT citizens and veterans. The vote was eight in…
Marriage Equality Pioneer Mark Phariss to Run for Texas Senate
Plano attorney Mark Phariss, who in 2013 was a plaintiff in the successful Texas marriage equality lawsuit, announced his candidacy for Texas Senate District 8, which covers portions of Collin and Dallas counties. The District 8 seat has been held by Republican Van Taylor who is vacating the office to run for Congress. Phariss will…
Mayor Nirenberg Appoints Liaison to LGBT Community
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced on September 6 that he is appointing a liaison to the LGBT community. Juany Torres, who currently serves as senior policy advisor and director of community engagement in the Office of the Mayor, will serve as the point of contact between Nirenberg and the LGBT community. “Our entire city…
Ron Nirenberg Wins Mayoral Runoff Election
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. Councilman Ron Nirenberg unseated incumbent Mayor Ivy Taylor in a heated runoff election for San Antonio mayor Saturday night. “Tonight the voters got it right,” Nirenberg told the crowd gathered at his election headquarters Saturday night. “Tonight the voters rejected the politics of division and false choices. They…
Nirenberg Says LGBTs Deserve a City That Treats Them With Respect
Speaking to a group of LGBT supporters at a fundraiser on May 21, mayoral candidate Ron Nirenberg said that San Antonio’s LGBT citizens deserve to be treated fairly by their city government and that he was prepared to the defend the community from attack. Nirenberg’s comments were made at a fundraising event dubbed “1000 LGBTQ…
U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin Among Pride Parade Dignitaries
Organizers for Pride San Antonio announced today that Richard L. Durbin, Jr., the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, will be among the local dignitaries to appear in the Pride Parade on July 2. Durbin, who is based in San Antonio, has served as U.S. Attorney since 2014. According to his bio,…