Texas state Rep. Julie Johnson, the early front-runner in the race for a U.S. House seat left open by departing Rep. Colin Allred, is on track to become the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from the Lone Star State. She’d also be the first elected from the entire American South, where the bulk of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation was passed this year. Johnson’s campaign announcement video, released last month, highlighted the 57-year-old’s experience as an attorney, an openly gay Texan, and a state lawmaker who unseated former Republican state, Rep. Matt Rinaldi. #Queer Up Politics