Texas Woman Jailed for Defying COVID-19 Lockdown Wins State House Seat

Salon owner Shelley Luther (C) walks with her boyfriend, Tim Georgeff (L), and lawyer Warren Norred (R) after she was released from jail in Dallas on May 7, 2020. LM Otero/AP Photo

A Texas woman jailed for defying COVID-19 lockdown mandates by keeping her salon open has been elected to the state’s House District 62.

Republican Shelley Luther earned 77.7 percent of the vote, beating Democrat Tiffany Drake, who received 22.3 percent, Ballotpedia reported.

Luther said she was forced to close her salon in March 2020 and wasn’t given a clear date on which she could reopen. A local county judge continued to delay the date.

“When he finally pushed it back a final time I just woke up one day and I said, ‘I have to open; my stylists are calling me, they’re not making their mortgage,’” Luther said.

Behind on her own mortgage, she reopened her shop in April, but she was arrested and jailed for seven days and ordered to pay $500 for each day the salon was open.

Dallas County Judge Eric Moyé said he would consider a lesser sentence if Luther admitted she was wrong and apologized for what he characterized as her “selfish” actions.

“I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I’m selfish, because feeding my kids is not selfish,“ Luther responded. ”I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids.

“So, sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision, but I am not going to shut the salon.”

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a stay-at-home executive order that prohibited what were then classified as “non-essential” businesses from operating to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Abbott later eliminated jail time for those found guilty of violating the order.

“Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen,” Abbott said.

The state Supreme Court ordered that Luther be released after state officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, spoke out to support her.

Luther later unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in 2020 then lost to an incumbent Reggie Smith in the 2022 Republican primary for Texas House District 62.

She defeated Smith in the March primary and proceeded to the 2024 general election.

She ran on issues such as border enforcement, election integrity, and the prohibition of sexual content in public schools.

“Shelley Luther will fight to preserve Texas values, and she won’t back down when things get tough,” her website stated.

Drake, her Democrat opponent for the House District 62 seat, thanked her supporters on her website, stating that although the outcome wasn’t what she wanted, she “will continue to look for ways to protect public education.”

“We encourage the winner to represent all of the amazing people who supported our campaign,” she stated.

Zachary Stieber and Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.