Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

In January 2016, Horton succeeded [[Henry Burns]] of [[Bossier City]], who left the House seat to seek District 36 position in the state Senate. Burns was defeated by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Ryan Gatti]], a close friend of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]]. After one term, Gatti was unseated by [[Robert Mills]], a more [[conservative]] Republican. Prior to her election to the House,  Horton had been since 2008 Burns' legislative assistant.<ref name=bpt>{{cite web|url=http://bossierpress.com/carlson-meet-state-representative-candidate-dodie-horton/|title=Carlson: Meet state representative candidate Dodie Horton|author=Sean Green|publisher=''The Bossier Press-Tribune''|date=June 17, 2015|accessdate=March 20, 2022}}</ref>

In January 2016, Horton succeeded [[Henry Burns]] of [[Bossier City]], who left the House seat to seek District 36 position in the state Senate. Burns was defeated by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Ryan Gatti]], a close friend of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]]. After one term, Gatti was unseated by [[Robert Mills]], considered at the time as a more [[conservative]] Republican. Prior to her election to the House,  Horton had been since 2008 Burns' legislative assistant.<ref name=bpt>{{cite web|url=http://bossierpress.com/carlson-meet-state-representative-candidate-dodie-horton/|title=Carlson: Meet state representative candidate Dodie Horton|author=Sean Green|publisher=''The Bossier Press-Tribune''|date=June 17, 2015|accessdate=March 20, 2022}}</ref>

In the [[primary]] election held on October 24, 2015, Horton handily defeated a single opponent, fellow Republican Mike McHalffey (born March 1959) of the parish seat of Benton, 4,584 votes (63.8 percent) to 2,602 (36.2 percent), for the right to succeed Burns.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2015.</ref> She was relected without opposition from either party in the primary held on October 12, 2019.

In the [[primary]] election held on October 24, 2015, Horton handily defeated a single opponent, fellow Republican Mike McHalffey (born March 1959) of the parish seat of Benton, 4,584 votes (63.8 percent) to 2,602 (36.2 percent), for the right to succeed Burns.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2015.</ref> She was relected without opposition from either party in the primary held on October 12, 2019.

In March 2022, Horton introduced legislation to forbid public school teachers from kindergarten through twelfth grade from discussing sexual orientation and related issues, a matter Horton believes belongs to the nuclear family, not professional educators. The Louisiana media called her plan a "Don't Say Gay Bill," referring to the liberal media using the term to apply to [[Florida]] Governor [[Ron DeSantis]]. But DeSantis' bill covers only kindergarten though third grade. Horton said there is no need for such sexual discussions in any grade.<ref>Louisiana version of 'Don't Say Gay' bill would ban talk of LGBTQ issues in classroom | Legislature | theadvocate.com, accessed March 20, 2022.</ref> In May 2022, the Louisiana House Education Committee rejected Horton's bill on a 7 to 4 vote when three Moderate Republicans joining with the Democrats. The critics said the proposed legislation had "vague wording" and would have made it difficult to conform to social studies standards, such as [[LGBTQ+]] individuals who were targeted during the [[Holocaust]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/house-education-committee-rejects-bill-banning-classroom-discussions-of-sexual-orientation-or-gender-identity/|title=House Education Committee rejects bill banning classroom discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=May 4, 2022}}</ref>

In March 2022, Horton introduced legislation to forbid public school teachers from kindergarten through twelfth grade from discussing sexual orientation and related issues, a matter Horton believes belongs to the nuclear family, not professional educators. The Louisiana media called her plan a "Don't Say Gay Bill," referring to the liberal media using the term to apply to [[Florida]] Governor [[Ron DeSantis]]. But DeSantis' bill covers only kindergarten though third grade. Horton said there is no need for such sexual discussions in any grade.<ref>Louisiana version of 'Don't Say Gay' bill would ban talk of LGBTQ issues in classroom | Legislature | theadvocate.com, accessed March 20, 2022.</ref> In May 2022, the Louisiana House Education Committee rejected Horton's bill on a 7 to 4 vote when three Moderate Republicans joining with the Democrats. The critics said the proposed legislation had "vague wording" and would have made it difficult to conform to social studies standards, such as [[LGBTQ+]] individuals who were targeted during the [[Holocaust]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/house-education-committee-rejects-bill-banning-classroom-discussions-of-sexual-orientation-or-gender-identity/|title=House Education Committee rejects bill banning classroom discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=May 4, 2022}}</ref>

Horton sought election a third term in the state House on October 14, 2023. She ran against another Republican, "Chris" Turner.

Horton sought election a third term in the state House on October 14, 2023. She ran against another Republican, "Chris" Turner.