Michelle Beckley
{{Short description|Texas state legislator (born 1969)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Michelle Beckley
|state_house = Texas
|district = 65th
|term_start = January 8, 2019
|term_end = January 10, 2023
|predecessor = Ron Simmons
|successor = Kronda Thimesch
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|28}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Martin Mikes
|residence = Carrollton, Texas, U.S.
|education = Texas A&M University (BS)
|signature=Michelle Beckley Signature.png}}
Michelle Jane Beckley (born November 28, 1969){{Cite web|url=https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=62568&office=16811|title = Rep. Michelle Beckley - Texas State Directory Online}} 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.{{Cite news|last=Barragan|first=James|title=Texas' new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers' runs|work=The Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/22/texas-redistricting-political-challengers/|access-date=31 October 2021}} After a brief run for the Democratic nomination in Texas's 24th congressional district. she dropped out and instead ran for Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 2022.{{Cite web|last=Barragán|first=James|date=2021-11-16|title=Michelle Beckley, one of the Texas House's most liberal members, joins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/16/texas-lieutenant-governor-2022-michelle-beckley/|access-date=2021-12-07|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}} She was defeated by Mike Collier in the Democratic primary runoff.
She is running to represent District 63 of the Texas House of Representatives, where she will face incumbent Ben Bumgarner (R) in the 2024 general election. The district is considered competitive.
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.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
Beckley worked in sales immediately following college, but returned to Carrollton to manage the family business, Kookaburra Bird Shop.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kookshop.com/|title=Home Page | Kookaburra Bird Shop, LLC | Michelle Beckley|website=www.kookshop.com|access-date=May 26, 2019}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Svitek|first=Patrick|date=July 20, 2021|title=Texas House Democrat Michelle Beckley announces run against Republican U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/20/texas-michelle-beckley-beth-van-duyne/|access-date=2021-07-20|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en-us}} 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.
=Family=
Beckley lives in Carrollton with her husband, Martin Mikes.{{cite web |url=https://www.michellebeckley.com/about |title=About |publisher=Michelle Beckley |accessdate=January 26, 2020}}
Texas Legislature
Beckley decided to run for office after attending the Dallas 2017 Women's March.
In the November 2018 general election, Beckley defeated incumbent Republican legislator Ron Simmons, who had authored HB 2899, the so-called "Bathroom Bill," a controversial bill that some business leaders in Texas said was unnecessary and divisive. Beckley won 51.1% to 48.9%,{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Michelle_Beckley|title=Michelle Beckley|website=Ballotpedia|access-date=May 26, 2019}} 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%.{{cite web |last1=Roark |first1=Chris |title=Denton County incumbents win at county, state level |date=November 3, 2020 |url=https://starlocalmedia.com/lakecitiessun/news/denton-county-incumbents-win-at-county-state-level/article_a2858a16-1e63-11eb-91b3-3bb7dd4ae715.html}}
Beckley authored{{Cite web|publisher=Texas Legislature|title=Bills Authored / Joint Authored: Rep. Michelle Beckley, 86th Legislature Regular Session|date=May 16, 2019|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/reports/report.aspx?ID=author&LegSess=86R&Code=A3795}} and co-authored{{Cite web|url=https://capitol.texas.gov/reports/report.aspx?ID=coauthor&LegSess=86R&Code=A3795|title=Texas Legislature Online - Report|website=capitol.texas.gov|access-date=May 26, 2019}} 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.
A vaccine-related amendment, introduced by Beckley, was approved in March 2019 as part of the state budget.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/vaccine-debate-continues-at-the-texas-capitol/1883515090|title=Vaccine debate continues at the Texas Capitol|first=Steffi|last=Lee|date=Mar 29, 2019|website=KXAN|access-date=May 26, 2019}} 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, 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.
Election history
;2024{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Texas House of Representatives District 63 Democratic primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Michelle Beckley|votes=2479|percentage=67.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Denise Wooten|votes=1199|percentage=32.6}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=3678|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Texas House of Representatives District 63 General Election Results}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Ben Bumgarner (incumbent)|votes=|percentage=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Michelle Beckley|votes=|percentage=}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=|percentage=}}
{{Election box end}}
;
2020:{{Election box begin no change
| title=Texas General Election, 2020: State Representative District 65{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_House_of_Representatives_District_65 |title=Texas House of Representatives District 65 |access-date=December 31, 2020 |publisher=Ballotpedia }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Michelle Beckley
|votes = 40,529
|percentage = 51.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kronda Thimesch
|votes = 38,156
|percentage = 48.5
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Democratic Party (US)
|loser = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
;2018
{{Election box begin no change
| title=Texas General Election, 2018: State Representative District 65
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Michelle Beckley
|votes = 29,972
|percentage = 51.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Ron Simmons
|votes = 28,614
|percentage = 48.8
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
|winner = Democratic Party (US)
|loser = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
|title=Texas Democrats kill bill inspired by San Antonio's Chick-fil-A flap
|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News
|date=May 9, 2019
|author=Taylor Goldenstein
|url=https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/article/Texas-Democrats-aim-to-kill-bill-inspired-by-San-13832843.php
}}
|title=TX HB16 {{!}} 2019-2020 {{!}} 86th Legislature
|website=LegiScan
|url=https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB16/2019
}}
}}
External links
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=177474 | fec= | congress= }}
- [http://ballotpedia.org/Michelle_Beckley Biography] at Ballotpedia
- [https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=65 Legislative page]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-tx-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Ron Simmons}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 65th district|years=2019–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Kronda Thimesch}}
{{s-end}}
{{Texas House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckley, Michelle}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives
Category:People from Denton County, Texas
Category:Texas A&M University alumni