Texas Anti-LGBTQ+ Council Members Ousted, Replaced by First Gay Member
Odessa, Texas voters ousted three incumbent City Council members following the council’s passage of a controversial anti-trans bathroom ban. Craig Stoker, the city’s first openly gay council member, secured victory by focusing his campaign on infrastructure improvements. His win, along with that of Mayor-elect Cal Hendrick (who also focused on infrastructure), contrasted sharply with the incumbents’ focus on divisive social issues. The Ector County Republican Party’s decision to remain neutral in the local elections suggests a shift away from prioritizing such issues at the local level.
John Q. Hosedrinker