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'''Guadalupe Valdez''', known as '''Lupe Valdez''' (born October 11, 1947), is a [[Mexico|Mexican]]-[[United States|American]] law enforcement official who served from 2005 to 2017 as the [[sheriff]] of [[Dallas|Dallas County]], [[Texas]].

'''Guadalupe Valdez''', known as '''Lupe Valdez''' (born October 11, 1947), is a [[Mexico|Mexican]]-[[United States|American]] law enforcement official who served from 2005 to 2017 as the [[sheriff]] of [[Dallas|Dallas County]], [[Texas]].

On December 6, 2017, she resigned her position as sheriff to run for the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nomination for [[governor]] of Texas. If she defeats intra-party rival, Andrew White of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], the son of the late Governor [[Mark White]], she will compete in the general election on November 6 against the incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Greg Abbott]].<ref>{{cite web|aouthor=Gromer Jeffers, Jr.|title=Lupe Valdez resigns as Dallas County sheriff, announces her run for Texas governor|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2017/12/06/dallas-county-sheriff-lupe-valdez-resign-wednesday-run-governor|accessdate=March 17, 2018 |publisher=''Dallas News''|date=December 6, 2017}}</ref>

On December 6, 2017, she resigned her position as sheriff to run successfully for the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nomination for [[governor]] of Texas. In the May 22, 2018, runoff contest, she narrowly defeated intra-party rival, Andrew White, a [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] entrepreneur and the son of the late Governor [[Mark White]]. Valdez will now compete in the general election on November 6 against the incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Greg Abbott]].<ref>{{cite web|aouthor=Gromer Jeffers, Jr.|title=Lupe Valdez resigns as Dallas County sheriff, announces her run for Texas governor|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2017/12/06/dallas-county-sheriff-lupe-valdez-resign-wednesday-run-governor|accessdate=March 17, 2018 |publisher=''Dallas News''|date=December 6, 2017}}</ref>

In the [[primary election]] held on March 6, 2018, Valdez led a nine-candidate field with 42.6 percent of the ballots cast. White trailed with 28.9 percent and will compete with Valdez in a May 22 runoff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_324_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

In the [[primary election]] held on March 6, 2018, Valdez led a nine-candidate field with 42.6 percent of the ballots cast. Andrew White trailed with 28.9 percent and will compete with Valdez in a May 22 runoff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_324_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

The youngest of eight children of migrant farm workers, Valdez was reared in her native [[San Antonio]], Texas. After working for a time in the farm fields herselp, she entered college and earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, [[Oklahoma]]. She then earned a master's degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2018-elections/2018/02/16/farm-mansionlupe-valdez-relishes-underdog-role-race-texas-governor|title=From farm to mansion? Lupe Valdez relishes underdog role in race for Texas governor|dateMarch 17, 2018|publisher=''Dallas News''|accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref>

The youngest of eight children of migrant farm workers, Valdez was reared in her native [[San Antonio]], Texas. After working for a time in the farm fields herselp, she entered college and earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, [[Oklahoma]]. She then earned a master's degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2018-elections/2018/02/16/farm-mansionlupe-valdez-relishes-underdog-role-race-texas-governor|title=From farm to mansion? Lupe Valdez relishes underdog role in race for Texas governor|dateMarch 17, 2018|publisher=''Dallas News''|accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref>

After service in the [[United States Army]], having advanced to the rank of captain, she became a jailer in a county jail and then a federal penitentiary. She retired in 2004 from the Customs Service within the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] to run for sheriff in Dallas County. She is the first [[lesbian]] to have been the Dallas County sheriff.<ref name=fikac>Peggy Fikac, "Valez, White marked by contrast in styles," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2018, pp. 1, A10.</ref>

After service in the [[United States Army]], having advanced to the rank of captain, she became a jailer in a county jail and then a federal penitentiary. She retired in 2004 from the Customs Service within the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] to run for sheriff in Dallas County. She is the first [[lesbian]] to have been the Dallas County sheriff.<ref name=fikac>Peggy Fikac, "Valez, White marked by contrast in styles," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2018, pp. 1, A10.</ref>

White has presented himself as a "moderate" in the race in contrast to the outspoken [[liberal]] Valdez, who led in ten of the fifteen largest counties in the state in the primary. Two former [[African-American]] candidates have endorsed White, Cedric Davis, Sr., a former mayor of Balch Springs who ran for governor, and Michael Cooper, an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, a post held by the Republican [[Dan Patrick]]. Cooper said that he believes White is "the only candidate with a viable strategy" to unseat Abbott in November.<ref name=fikac/>

White has presented himself as a "moderate" in the race in contrast to the outspoken [[liberal]] Valdez, who led in ten of the fifteen largest counties in the state in the primary. Two former [[African-American]] candidates endorsed White, Cedric Davis, Sr., a former mayor of Balch Springs who ran for governor, and Michael Cooper, an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, a post held by the Republican [[Dan Patrick]]. Cooper said that he believes White is "the only candidate with a viable strategy" to unseat Abbott in November.<ref name=fikac/>

Political prognosticators, however, believe that Valdez's base is more likely to turn out for the runoff than are White's supporters.<ref name=fikac/> On March 27, Valdez collected endorsements from twenty-two of the fifty-five Democratic members of the Texas House, most of whom are her fellow Hispanics. Valdez predicted that the endorsement will enhance "the unity growing behind our campaign. With this broad support, our movement is bringing together Texans of all backgrounds to fight for a new vision for Texas."<ref name=valdezbacking>{{cite web|url=https://www.lmtonline.com/news/politics/texas/article/22-Dem-state-reps-endorse-Lupe-Valdez-for-governor-12787425.php?utm_campaign=hptexas|title=22 Dem state reps endorse Lupe Valez for governor|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|author=Mike Ward|date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>

Political prognosticators had indicated that Valdez's liberal Hispanic base was more likely to turn out for the runoff than were supporters of Andrew White.<ref name=fikac/> On March 27, Valdez collected endorsements from twenty-two of the fifty-five Democratic members of the Texas House, most of whom are her fellow Hispanics. Valdez predicted that the endorsement will enhance "the unity growing behind our campaign. With this broad support, our movement is bringing together Texans of all backgrounds to fight for a new vision for Texas."<ref name=valdezbacking>{{cite web|url=https://www.lmtonline.com/news/politics/texas/article/22-Dem-state-reps-endorse-Lupe-Valdez-for-governor-12787425.php?utm_campaign=hptexas|title=22 Dem state reps endorse Lupe Valez for governor|publisher=''Laredo Morning Times''|author=Mike Ward|date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>

Valdez carries the backing of a plethora of liberal interest groups, the [[AFL-CIO]], [[Planned Parenthood]], Texas Tejano Democrats, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and Stonewall Democrat chapters in Houston, Dallas, Denton, San Antonio, and [[Austin]]. Intra-party rival Andrew White also carries liberal backing from the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, the Harris County Young Democrats, the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats and the state's three largest newspapers, including ''The Houston Chronicle''.<ref name=valdezbacking/>

Valdez carries the backing of a plethora of liberal interest groups, the [[AFL-CIO]], [[Planned Parenthood]], Texas Tejano Democrats, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and Stonewall Democrat chapters in Houston, Dallas, Denton, San Antonio, and [[Austin]]. Intra-party rival Andrew White also carried liberal backing from the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, the Harris County Young Democrats, the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats and the state's three largest newspapers, including ''The Houston Chronicle''.<ref name=valdezbacking/>

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