HOUSTON – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, of Houston, took to the airways to fight the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
"It's about allowing men into women's locker rooms and bathrooms," Patrick said in the ad. "No woman should have to share a public locker room or restroom with a man.
Patrick said he usually stayed out of local politics, but this issue is extreme.
"This is absurd," he said. "A decade ago, we would laugh at even thinking about the people would even cast a vote to keep men out of ladies rooms. This is so egregious.
Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Crystal Perkins fired back and said, "It is repugnant that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is spending thousands of dollars to push a hateful Tea Party agenda. There is no place for hate in Texas. This is not the first time Republicans have sought to discriminate against Texas' diverse communities. But we pray this will be the last."
The ads hit the airways as Houstonian started heading to the polls for early voting.
On Monday, at least two candidates for mayor cast their ballots. Adrian Garcia, former Harris County Sheriff, voted at Moody Park and Sylvester Turner, state lawmaker, voted in Acres Homes.
Early voting continues through Oct. 30.