Challenging uncontested candidates may be the key to gender parity in Texas politics - HM Feature

The Lone Star Parity Project issued an interesting press release announcing its findings on gender parity in Texas, which immediately caught my attention. I decided to approach the topic as a mini-documentary, featuring one expert on gender parity: Adrianna Maberry from the Lone Star Parity Project and two women who each experienced being the first of their gender in their respective positions, representing different sides of the political aisle.

My conversations with Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs and Judge Fransheneka Watson couldn’t have been more of a contrast. From their mannerisms to their approach to election season- and, of course, their political perspectives - two sides of different coins. Yet both described a pivotal moment when they refused to let convention and their gender hold them back, and instead moved forward toward their goals. They were both warm, insightful, and an absolute pleasure to speak with. I hope to have the opportunity to speak with all three of these remarkable women again.

I truly loved working on this feature for Houston Matters. It’s easy to get caught up in the differences between public officials, but projects like this remind me how important it is to highlight the shared challenges women in society continue to face.

Even here in 2025, we’re still meeting trailblazers—women breaking through longstanding barriers of color and gender to help shape the future.

Challenging uncontested candidates may be the key to gender parity in Texas politics

Each election cycle, the Lone Star Parity Project tracks the number of men and women running for elected office in Texas in primary and general elections. According to its latest report, 2025 State of the Texas Woman, more than a thousand men ran unopposed in various offices across the state in 2024.

The non-partisan organization wants to change that. Adrianna Maberry is its co-founder and research director. In an interview with Houston Matters producer Brenda Valdivia, she says she'd like to see more women oppose men — regardless of party affiliation — when there are no other candidates on the ballot.

Valdivia also talks with Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who serves on The Woodlands Township board of directors. In 2006, she became the first female physician in the U.S. House of Representatives. She also speaks with Judge Fransheneka Watson, who became the first Black woman to serve as a probate judge in Harris County in 2024.

The women share their experiences in politics, how their paths led them to run for office, and what someone should expect if they want to throw their hat into the political ring.

I also created the headline banner for the web post above in Canva. The artwork featuring the podium speaker and raised hands was predesigned, but I edited and animated it to convey a sense of call and response between the speaker and audience. I’ve really fallen in love with the app. It’s been a great tool for creating flyers for the office and social media posts.

You can listen to our interview here:
Houston Matters with Craig Cohen - Houston Public Media April 17, 2025