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Victory applauds Oakley campaign

Following the announcement of tonight's election results, Victory Fund president & CEO Chuck Wolfe issued a statement to Victory supporters.

They say "close" doesn't count in politics, but Ed Oakley's hard fought campaign to be the next mayor of Dallas has made a mark on our country.  Ed was unable to overcome the enormous money advantage of his opponent's campaign, but the mere fact that he was a contender to the end is remarkable.  Ed ran neck and neck with a better-funded opponent, but he never ran away from the truth about his sexual orientation.

For Ed, this election was not about making history.  It was about the city he loves and the people who live there.  That's my favorite kind of candidate.  But for a young person struggling to accept being gay, or a parent unsure about what to tell their child about gay people, or an older person in some small town who's been afraid to come out-for them, examples of courageous leaders like Ed have the power to change lives.

I want to thank our partners at the Human Rights Campaign, Stonewall Democrats and the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance who worked to turn out Ed's supporters in Dallas.  And I want to thank the thousands of people across the country who contributed to this historic campaign.  Together, we are making a difference, and sometimes, even when we don't win, we're making history.