Jared Woodfill, the anti-gay Harris County GOP Chair who sued the city of Houston and Mayor Annise Parker over Parker's decision to extend health and life insurance benefits to gay married spouses, lost his bid for reelection on Tuesday, LoneStarQ reports:
Woodfill, a 12-year incumbent, lost to challenger Paul Simpson by a margin of 53 percent to 37 percent, with third-place finisher Wendy McPherson Berry capturing 10 percent.
Woodfill campaigned heavily on social issues, staging a “Stand for Marriage” press conference a day before the primary in response to a federal judge's decision striking down Texas' bans on same-sex marriage. The press conference was billed as a rally against “sodomite” marriage and a “would-be dictator” judge.
Woodfill also attacked Parker for marrying her partner in Palm Springs.
Said Parker of the attacks:
"Mr. Woodfill is a little like a windup doll. I say something and he goes on TV and says this is something I planned. It's part of my grand agenda to promote gay rights…You don't commit 23 years of your life to someone to make a political statement…I took four days off. I had to leave my home state and make a little wedge of time to marry the woman I love. They can get over it."
