Salon Owner Who Defied COVID-19 Closure Order to Run for Texas Senate

Shelley Luther, the Dallas salon owner who generated national media attention after reopening her shop in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s closure order, has tossed her hat into the ring for Texas Senate District 30.

Luther made the announcement at a rally in support of police Saturday in Denton.

“If you want someone who doesn’t have to tell you they’ll fight. If you want someone who doesn’t have to tell you they’ll stand up and go to jail for you. I’ll do it again and again because we are going to fight to keep our Texas values,” said Luther. 

State Rep. Drew Springer (R-Muenster) has also announced his candidacy for the soon-to-be-open state seat. He has already picked up endorsements from 26 of his house colleagues. 

The seat is opening up after Republicans elected state senator Pat Fallon to replace Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as the GOP nominee for Texas’ congressional District 4. Fallon is expected to win in November, moving him from the state senate to Congress. 

Abbott has scheduled a special election to fill the open seat for Sept. 29. Candidates have until Friday to file their applications to run. Early voting will begin on Sept. 14.