A record number of women are running in Texas congressional primaries this year, ABC News reported Sunday.
At least 50 women are campaigning for congressional seats in Texas, joining 110 women running for local office across the state.
Some of the women said they were inspired to run to oppose President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE and his policies.
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Gina Ortiz Jones, a former staffer in the Trump administration, told ABC that she decided to resign and run for office as a Democrat, inspired by actions taken by Trump she felt negatively impacted women and minorities.
Ortiz Jones, who is an openly gay veteran and the daughter of a Filipino immigrant, told the news outlet it wasn’t surprising that more women are running. She is one of several female candidates challenging Rep. Will HurdWilliam Ballard HurdHouse Republicans hopeful about bipartisan path forward on police reform legislation House GOP delays police reform bill The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump’s public standing sags after Floyd protests MORE (R-Texas).
“They have stepped up and said, ‘You know what? I’m done assuming somebody is going to do for me that which I can do for myself,’ ” she told the network.
Alma Arrendondo-Lynch, who is running for Hurd’s seat as a Republican, said she was in the race to back the Trump administration.
“If we get enough people that are conservatives like myself who have the passion in their heart, yes, we can shake up Washington,” Arrendondo-Lynch told ABC.
The state also has a record number of openly LGBTQ candidates this year, with 35 LGBTQ people running for public office.
Women across the U.S. are running for Congress in increased numbers, with more than twice as many women launching campaigns for the 2018 midterms than were running two years ago.
Texans set a record for early voting numbers this year, with more than 602,000 voters casting ballots through Wednesday.
Democrats outvoted Republicans by more than 25,000 ballots since early voting began on Feb. 20, the largest turnout for the state’s Democrats since the primary battle between former President Obama and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE in 2008.
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