Texas just elected its first nonbinary city council member, who is also likely the first openly nonbinary elected public official anywhere in the state.

Despite all the challenges facing their city – from AI data centers sucking up resources to a rapidly worsening affordable housing crisis – and even after all the vitriol they faced during their campaign, they still believe in the future of Denton.

At 38 years old, George Ferrie, who won the office on June 13 after a divisive runoff election, is part of a wave of millennials elected to Denton’s city council. With their election, four out of seven of the city council members are under the age of 40, and Ferrie believes this generational shift is part of a mandate from local voters who want to feel represented by a diverse group that’s dedicated to making concrete improvements in their quality of life.