Michelle Beckley
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 65th district
In office
January 8, 2019 – January 10, 2023
Preceded byRon Simmons
Succeeded byKronda Thimesch
Personal details
Born (1969-11-28) November 28, 1969
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMartin Mikes
Residence(s)Carrollton, Texas, U.S.
EducationTexas A&M University (BS)

Michelle Jane Beckley (born November 28, 1969)[1] is a former Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 65. She was first elected in November 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Ron Simmons. Texas' 65th district represents parts of southern Denton County. She did not run for reelection in 2022.[2] She instead ran for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 2022.[3] She was defeated by Mike Collier in the Democratic primary.

Beckley briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for the representative of Texas's 24th congressional district.[2]

Personal life

Education and career

Beckley attended public school in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. After graduating from Newman Smith High School, she attended Texas A&M University, receiving a degree in biomedical sciences in 1992.

Beckley worked in sales immediately following college, but returned to Carrollton to manage the family business, Kookaburra Bird Shop.[4] In 2003, she purchased the shop and continues to manage it.

On July 21, 2021, Beckley announced her candidacy for Texas's 24th congressional district, a seat held by Beth Van Duyne.[5] She dropped out of the race one month later, as a result of the newly drawn district boundaries which placed her outside of district 65.[2]

Family

Beckley lives in Carrollton with her husband, Martin Mikes.[6]

Texas Legislature

Beckley decided to run for office after attending the Dallas 2017 Women's March.[7]

In the November 2018 general election, Beckley defeated incumbent Republican legislator Ron Simmons, who had authored HB 2899, the so-called "Bathroom Bill,"[8] a controversial bill that some business leaders in Texas said was unnecessary and divisive. Beckley won 51.1% to 48.9%,[9] despite being outspent nearly six to one. Beckley was endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, and Planned Parenthood.

Beckley defeated Republican challenger Kronda Thimesch in the 2020 general election. Beckley won 51.5% to 48.5%.[10]

Beckley authored[11] and co-authored[12] numerous bills in the 86th legislative session involving LGBTQ equality, public health, and women's reproductive health.

"House Bill 978 sought to amend the Texas Family Code to use gender-neutral language when discussing marriage — changing references to “man and woman” or “husband and wife” to “two individuals” or “spouses.” The bill would also amend the Health and Safety Code to remove provisions regarding the criminality or unacceptability of “homosexual conduct.” Beckley’s bill died in the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence. Its companion, Senate Bill 153 by José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, did not receive a committee hearing. Both bills received heavy pushback from religious advocacy groups who say the legislation amounts to an attack on religious freedom.[13]

A vaccine-related amendment,[14] introduced by Beckley, was approved in March 2019 as part of the state budget.[15] It requires state health officials to assess the immunization rates at child care centers, which it has not done for several years."

Beckley was outspoken about HB 16,[16] the so-called Born Alive bill. "I refuse to make a mockery out of women's health and so I joined 50 of my colleagues to register as 'Present Not Voting.' Today's vote was about Republican scorecards, not good Texas policy," she said.[14]

General election history

2020
Texas General Election, 2020: State Representative District 65[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michelle Beckley 40,529 51.5
Republican Kronda Thimesch 38,156 48.5
Democratic hold
2018
Texas General Election, 2018: State Representative District 65[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michelle Beckley 29,972 51.2
Republican Ron Simmons 28,614 48.8
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ↑ "Rep. Michelle Beckley - Texas State Directory Online".
  2. 1 2 3 Barragan, James. "Texas' new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers' runs". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. ↑ Barragán, James (November 16, 2021). "Michelle Beckley, one of the Texas House's most liberal members, joins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Home Page | Kookaburra Bird Shop, LLC | Michelle Beckley". www.kookshop.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  5. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (July 20, 2021). "Texas House Democrat Michelle Beckley announces run against Republican U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ "About". Michelle Beckley. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Thousands march through downtown Dallas in support for women's rights". Dallas News. January 21, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  8. ↑ Tribune, Alexa Ura, Texas Tribune, Alexa Ura, Texas (May 22, 2017). "Texas House Approves Bathroom Restrictions For Transgender Students". www.kut.org. Retrieved May 26, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "Michelle Beckley". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ Roark, Chris (November 3, 2020). "Denton County incumbents win at county, state level".
  11. ↑ "Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Rep. Michelle Beckley, 86th Legislature Regular Session". Texas Legislature. May 16, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Texas Legislature Online - Report". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  13. ↑ Taylor Goldenstein (May 9, 2019). "Texas Democrats kill bill inspired by San Antonio's Chick-fil-A flap". San Antonio Express-News.
  14. 1 2 Huber, Mary. "Amid measles crisis, Texas bills targeting vaccine issues slow to move". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  15. ↑ Lee, Steffi (March 29, 2019). "Vaccine debate continues at the Texas Capitol". KXAN. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  16. ↑ "TX HB16 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature". LegiScan.
  17. 1 2 "Texas House of Representatives District 65". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
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