State Rep. Dan Branch speaks at a Log Cabin Republicans meeting in Dallas in 2008. But don’t expect Branch to address the gay GOP group again now that he’s running for statewide office. (John Wright/Dallas Voice)
Republican State Rep. Dan Branch, who represents much of Dallas’ Oak Lawn gayborhood in the Texas House, vowed to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage as he kicked off his campaign for attorney general on Tuesday.
“Whether defending our First Amendment freedoms, the Second Amendment right to bear arms or the 10th Amendment’s reservation of power to the states, I will exhaust all available remedies to protect Texas from attacks on our freedoms,” Branch said. “When our federal government fails to protect our borders or fulfill its commitment of emergency relief to communities like West, I won’t stop until the federal bureaucrats are held accountable. And I will fight for our state’s right to protect the unborn and our right to define marriage as between one man and one woman.”
In other words, Branch wants to protect Texas’ “right” to trample on the freedoms of women and same-sex couples.
Branch has an anti-gay voting record in the House, but when facing challenges from pro-LGBT Democrats, he’s been known to fraternize with gay Republican groups. Despite his past appearance, we’d suggest it’s highly unlikely Branch will address the Log Cabin Republicans again now that he’s running for statewide office.
Branch is arguably more moderate than current Attorney General Greg Abbott, but look for Branch to veer sharply to the right in the 2014 primary as he faces tea party state Sen. Ken Paxton in the primary.
Abbott, who’s stepping down to run for governor, has intervened to prevent same-sex couples married in other states from divorcing in Texas, and earlier this year he issued an advisory opinion saying it’s illegal for government entities in the state to offer domestic partner benefits.
Former Dallas City Councilwoman Angela Hunt, a staunch LGBT ally, has been rumored as a possible candidate for Branch’s open seat in District 108, but she would face an uphill battle in a Republican district that also includes the Park Cities.
