It's been up and down for Alabama state legislature hopeful lesbian Patricia Todd. She beat her opponent Gaynell Hendricks – by 59 votes – in a Democratic run-off election in July. On track to win her seat in November's elections, she then suffered a huge setback: the Alabama Democratic Party last week stripped her of her slot on the ballot after her opponent's mother-in-law pointed out Todd didn't file her campaign finance forms with the party's chairman. Turns out neither did Hendrinks, and they were both disqualified (even though this rule has been largely ignored by many sitting public officials).

But on Saturday, the Democratic Executive Committee overruled last week's decision and reinstated Todd's ballot position, virtually guaranteeing she will win — and become the state's first openly gay elected public official.

Todd election restored [Birmingham News]