After breaking away from her own political party to vote against transgender healthcare, the Democratic lawmaker was defeated before she began.
Losing the Primary
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Texas Democrat Representative Shawn Thierry lost in the primary election for the coveted south Houston seat after making quite the controversial decision.
Thierry’s Previous Track Record
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For the past four terms, Rep Shawn Thierry has had a near-flawless track record when it came to voting with the Democratic party on major issues.
Against Republican Policies
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These issues included voting against intense immigration methods pushed by the Republican Governor Greg Abbott, as well as a ban of college run diversity programs.
Her Controversial Speech
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In 2023, Rep Shawn Thierry received major backlash after defending a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in a 12-minute speech to the Texas House of Representatives.
A Vocal Stance
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While there were 3 other Democrats who also voted for the ban on gender-affirming care, they were not nearly as vocal as Theirry.
Electoral Defeat
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As a result, Rep Shawn Thierry lost by a startling double digits on Tuesday to competitor Lauren Ashely Simmons.
Shift in Support
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In response to Thierry’s speech last year, many of her previous supporters ended up voting for Simmons.
Former Mayor’s Statement
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The former Houston Mayor, Annise Parker, said, “Her vote was why she had a race, but when she doubled down and went really down the rabbit hole of misinformation, it energized folks in the LGBTQ community”.
Switching Sides
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Annise Parker, now the president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, switched her vote to Simmons after the controversy.
Simmons’ Prospective Victory
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Simmons is believed to be the eventual winner in the November election of the largely Democratic district in Houston.
Campaign Silence
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Thierry’s campaign has not yet released a statement about the loss of the primary.
Thierry’s Justification
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But last year, in her speech against gender-affirming care, Thierry said, “I am making a decision to place the safety and well-being of all young people over the comfort of political expediency”.
Her Core Belief
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Continuing, “It is my core belief and conclusion that we should remain consistent in the premise that children must be given special provisions under the law as they cannot fully appreciate the long-term consequences of their actions”.
A Glance at the Nation
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Thierry is not the only Democrat to vote against gender-affirming care for minors across the nation.
Democrats Remain Dedicated
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While the Democratic party remains dedicated to LGBTQ+ visibility and human rights, some lawmakers have remained silent against the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric from the GOP.
Simmons’ Endorsements
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Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Texas, Simmons has the support of the LGBTQ+ community in Texas and beyond.
The Human Rights Campaign Takes Action
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In order to help secure her seat, the Human Rights Campaign called and texted over 2,000 people in support, and the Equality Texas group hosted events in her honor.
Doubling Down
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Political consultant Grant Martin said it was not only Thierry’s vote but how she doubled down on her thoughts on Fox News while receiving donations from multiple Republican groups.
Sending a Clear Message
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A Rice University political science professor, Mark Jones, said, “This sends a clear message to Democratic elected officials that if you break with the party on key issues, … you really run the risk of getting primaried and removed from office”.
A Purge and Litmus Test
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Jones continued, “It’s the same type of purge and litmus test we’ve seen in the Republican Party recently”.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / VDB Photos.