Conservative Texas just elected its first LGBTQ+ person, Molly Cook, to the state Senate. Cook will take the place of Democrat John Whitmire who was just sworn in as the mayor of Houston in January. She will finish his term until January, and is also running for the next full term in a Democratic primary runoff on May 28.
Prior to running for office, Cook served as an emergency room nurse and community organizer. Cook identifies as bisexual and has openly supported gun control and reproductive rights throughout her campaign.
According to LGBTQ Nation, in the special election for the position Cook beat state Rep. Jarvis Johnson with 57% of the vote. Both Johnson and Cook vocally supported LGBTQ+ rights in their campaigns, however, Cook received endorsement from the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
The Victory Fund president and CEO, Annise Parker, said of the win “For too long, the LGBTQ+ community has been the punching bag of bigots in the Texas Senate.”
“Now they’ll have an out for LGBTQ+ peer as their colleague who look them in the eye and make them see as the Texans they’re hurting,” Parker said.
“We know Molly will not only be a powerful voice for LGBTQ+ Texans, she’ll do a wonderful job fighting for the needs of all her constituents in District 15, including myself. Between now and May 28, I’ll be doing everything I can to ensure another victory for Molly and the cause of equality.”
