LPAC, a national political action committee dedicated to building the “power of lesbians and queer women who champion LGBTQ rights,” has endorsed nine candidates in races across the country including two in Texas.
In November, LPAC endorsed Gina Ortiz Jones of San Antonio who is running for a seat in the U.S. Congress in Texas District 23. On February 13, they endorsed Fran Watson of Houston who is running for Texas State Senate District 17.
“We are thrilled to continue to endorse and support more highly qualified, viable progressive candidates like these,” Laura Ricketts, LPAC’s board chair, said in a press release. “It is time to take back the seats now held by governors, senators, members of congress and others at the national, state and local levels who continue to marginalize immigrants, women, LGBTQ people and communities of color – we must stop the assault on civil rights and civil liberties this nation is facing.”
The other candidates endorsed by LPAC during this election cycle are: US Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin of Wiconsin and Krysten Sinema of Arizona; congressional candidates Angie Craig of Minnesota and Lauren Baer of Florida; gubernatorial candidate Kate Brown of Oregon; state attorney general candidate Dana Nessel of Michigan; and state senate candidate Joy Silver of California.
Jones is a graduate of John Jay High School who was raised by a single mom who came to U.S. from the Philippines. She earned a BA and MA in economics from Boston University which she attended on a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship. After serving in the Air Force for three years, Jones pursued a career in national security, intelligence, and defense which included working for the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency. Most recently, she was employed in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Watson is a former president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus. She attended the Thurgood Marshall School of Law where she graduated magna cum laude in 2009. She is a founding partner of the law firm of Simoneaux & Watson and often provides pro-bono and reduced-fee services to clients involved landlord-tenant disputes, debt collection, and family law cases affecting LGBT clients.
“These women will be our advocates and champions when we need them most and will fight for what’s right and never back down,” said Ana Cruz, LPAC’s political strategy chair. “We are committed to electing candidates who will stand up for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, human rights, dreamers, immigrants and all Americans.”
