"Texas Democrat Shawn Thierry Faces Runoff Challenge Over LGBTQ Issues and Child Gender Modification Vote"
Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Houston Democrat, has been forced into a primary runoff with labor organizer Lauren Ashley Simmons after angering her party by siding with Republicans on bills opposed by the LGBTQ+ community. The race has become a referendum on whether Democrats can remain in good standing with the party if they are not fully supportive of LGBTQ+ rights. Thierry's opponents coalesced around Simmons, who secured endorsements from labor unions, Planned Parenthood, and the influential Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. Thierry's small-dollar donations largely dried up, and her reelection campaign relied heavily on wealthy Republican donors.