2010: Chavez Regrets Bringing Up Rival's Sexual Orientation

State Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso, this afternoon apologized for making her opponent Naomi Gonzalez's sexual orientation an issue in the campaign.

Here's the statement Chavez released: “I regret that in response to one of my opponent’s repeated, negative, personal attacks, I made reference to her sexual orientation. My opponent’s sexual orientation has no bearing on this campaign. This campaign should be about who is going to be the most effective legislator for El Paso in the Texas House."

Shortly after her statement showed up in my in-box, I got a press release from state Rep. Marisa Marquez, D-El Paso. The release was a statement from a laundry list of El Paso elected officials — Márquez, Mayor John Cook, County Commissioner Veronica Escobar, County Commissioner Anna Perez, City Rep. Susie Byrd, City Rep. Steve Ortega, City Rep. Beto O'Rourke and City Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly condemning Chavez for bringing up the issue. "We wholeheartedly reject Rep. Chávez’s politics of bigotry and division," the statement said. "We demand that Rep. Chávez apologize to her opponent, Naomi Gonzalez for failing to live up to the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party."

Probably not the way Chavez was hoping to kick off early voting in the runoff.