Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones announced she will run for a congressional seat that opened with the death of U.S. Rep Sylvester Turner.
Turner, the former mayor of Houston, was elected to Congress in 2024 and passed away in March.
Jones served on the Houston city council and was elected to the Texas House in 2022. She is a member of the LGBTQ Caucus.
“I am the only candidate in this race who has fought for our families in the Legislature, in the courtroom, on city council and on the school board,” said Jones. She pledged to fight for women’s rights and to restore abortion rights in Texas.
If elected she would be the second out lesbian elected to Congress from Texas and from the south after Julie Johnson, who is in her first congressional term in office.
In addition to her political career, Jones is an attorney. She won three national college championships to break Olympic champion Jackie Joyner Kersee’s record of two NCAA titles and become the top-rated U.S. heptathlete. She also was a contestant on Survivor.
The district is heavily Democratic. Because of that, Gov. Greg Abbott decided to leave the seat vacant as long as possible. The election will be held on Nov. 4.
— David Taffet