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Texas Woman Jailed for Defying COVID-19 Lockdown Wins State House Seat

Republican Shelley Luther earned 77.7 percent of the vote, beating Democrat Tiffany Drake, who received 22.3 percent, in District 62.

Epoch Times Report by Epoch Times Report
November 14, 2024
in Business, Culture, Politics, Texas Family Values, Top News
0
Texas Woman Jailed for Defying COVID-19 Lockdown Wins State House Seat

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MAY 08: Traci Hancock sits during a styling appointment at Shampoo Salon on May 08, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that hair salons, barber shops and tanning salons are allowed to open on Friday amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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By Matt McGregor

Updated: 11/13/2024

A Texas woman jailed for defying COVID-19 lockdown mandates by keeping her salon open has been elected to the state’s House District 62.

Republican Shelley Luther earned 77.7 percent of the vote, beating Democrat Tiffany Drake, who received 22.3 percent, Ballotpedia reported.

Luther said she was forced to close her salon in March 2020 and wasn’t given a clear date on which she could reopen. A local county judge continued to delay the date.

“When he finally pushed it back a final time I just woke up one day and I said, ‘I have to open; my stylists are calling me, they’re not making their mortgage,’” Luther said.

Behind on her own mortgage, she reopened her shop in April, but she was arrested and jailed for seven days and ordered to pay $500 for each day the salon was open.

Dallas County Judge Eric Moyé said he would consider a lesser sentence if Luther admitted she was wrong and apologized for what he characterized as her “selfish” actions.

“I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I’m selfish, because feeding my kids is not selfish,“ Luther responded. ”I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids.

“So, sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision, but I am not going to shut the salon.”

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a stay-at-home executive order that prohibited what were then classified as “non-essential” businesses from operating to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Abbott later eliminated jail time for those found guilty of violating the order.

“Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen,” Abbott said.

The state Supreme Court ordered that Luther be released after state officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, spoke out to support her.

Luther later unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in 2020 then lost to an incumbent Reggie Smith in the 2022 Republican primary for Texas House District 62.

She defeated Smith in the March primary and proceeded to the 2024 general election.

She ran on issues such as border enforcement, election integrity, and the prohibition of sexual content in public schools.

“Shelley Luther will fight to preserve Texas values, and she won’t back down when things get tough,” her website stated.

Drake, her Democrat opponent for the House District 62 seat, thanked her supporters on her website, stating that although the outcome wasn’t what she wanted, she “will continue to look for ways to protect public education.”

“We encourage the winner to represent all of the amazing people who supported our campaign,” she stated.

Zachary Stieber and Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.

Tags: electionhouse reprepublicansalon ownershelly lutherwin
Epoch Times Report

Epoch Times Report

The Epoch Times' primary goal is to bring our readers accurate information and to be responsible to the public. We are not influenced by any government, corporation, or political party, thus we are non-partisan. The Epoch Times is the fastest-growing independent media in America. And our mission of Truth and Tradition resonates with people of various backgrounds who are tired of the growing bias of the mainstream media and who recognize the danger humanity faces under the systematic destruction of traditional values by the forces behind Communism and Socialism.

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