The Executive Board of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus (TSDC) voted unanimously on September 12 to contribute $500 each to 12 Democratic candidates running for the Texas House and the State Board of Education. After much discussion, the TSDC Board adopted the position that the $6,000 it had budgeted for campaign contributions would have greater impact in helping Democrats take control of the State House of Representatives and the Board of Education. Notwithstanding its decision in allocating its financial resources, all Executive Board members expressed commitment toward helping elect statewide Democratic candidates through local chapter activities.

Seven (7) of the contributions are being made to the following Democratic State House members who are facing stiff challenges from Republicans:

Valinda Bolton (District 47-Austin)
http://www.valindabolton.com

Diana Maldonado (District 52-Round Rock)
http://www.dianamaldonado.com

Paula Pierson (District 93-Arlington)
http://www.paulapierson.com

Robert Miklos (District 101-Mesquite)
http://www.robertmiklos.com

Carol Kent (District 102-Dallas)
http://www.reelectcarolkent.com

Kristi Thibaut (District 133-Houston)
http://www.votethibaut.com

Ellen Cohen (District 134-Houston)
http://www.ellencohen.org

Three (3) contributions were sent to the following Democrats who have an excellent chance of unseating Republican incumbents:

Pati Jacobs (District 17-Bastrop)
http://www.patijacobs.org

Loretta Haldenwang (District 105-Irving)
http://www.voteloretta.com

Kendra Yarbrough Camarena (District 138-Houston)
http://www.electkendra.com

The final two (2) contributions were made to two Democrats who are strong challengers to Republican incumbents in State Board of Education races:

Rebecca Bell-Metereau (District 5)
http://www.voterebecca.com

Judy Jennings (District 10)
http://www.votejudyjennings.com

If Bell-Metereau and Jennings win their races, Democrats will control the State Board of Education, which has been dominated by far-right religious extremists the past four years.

TSDC is the officially recognized lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) caucus of the Texas Democratic Party and is a general-purpose political committee, or PAC, registered with the Texas Ethics Commission. One of the purposes of the TSDC is to help elect pro-equality Democratic candidates in order to promote the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in Texas.

For more information about TSDC go to: http://www.texasstonewalldemocrats.org