Brooke Slusser

Brooke grew up in Denton, Texas, where her volleyball journey began with Texas Advantage Volleyball. From 12 through 18, she played on the top team in the nation, competing at the highest level of club volleyball year after year. At Denton Guyer High School, she was honored as District MVP and named both Hitter and Setter of the Year multiple times, showcasing her versatility and leadership on the court. She went on to play Division I indoor volleyball for four years—first at the University of Alabama, placing second in the SEC in service aces, then at San Jose State University, where she was named to the all conference team and broke school records.

Her experience as an athlete shaped her deeply, but nothing impacted her more than competing against male athletes in women’s sports. That experience led her to join national lawsuits against the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference, standing up to protect fairness and integrity in women’s athletics.

Payton McNabb

Payton is an Independent Women sports ambassador and a former three-sport high school athlete from North Carolina who was severely injured by a male on the women’s volleyball court. She has worked alongside Independent Women to share her personal experience of competing against a biological male athlete and how her life forever changed following an injury

during the game. Now, McNabb is turning tragedy into triumph and using her voice to advocate for female athletes’ safety and the need to keep women’s sports female.

McNabb was knocked unconscious and exhibited a fencing response following a forceful blow to the head from a volleyball spike by a biological male playing on the opposing women’s team. The sheer impact of the ball has left McNabb with significant long-term physical and mental effects, including impaired vision, partial paralysis on her right side, balance issues, anxiety, and depression.

Since Payton’s life-altering injury at the hands of a male in women’s sports, she has made waves advocating for women’s fairness and safety around the country. She has shared her personal experience of competing against a male athlete and how her life forever changed following an injury during the game. Her passion in speaking out to keep women’s sports female makes her a

powerful voice in the movement of brave women fighting for common sense. She has gained national attention for her advocacy and joined President Trump as his guest at his joint address to Congress, where he recognized Payton’s bravery.

Senator Mayes Middleton

Mayes Middleton, a 7th generation Texan, is President of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company. Mayes is an attorney and also runs ranching, cattle, and farming operations. Mayes and his wife, Macy, have four children: Connor, Christian, Matthew, and Martha Ann. Mayes and Macy support numerous local community organizations and faith-based charities throughout the Galveston-Houston region.

Now in the Texas Senate, Mayes represents Senate District 11, encompassing portions of Brazoria, Galveston, and Harris Counties. Throughout his time in both the House and Senate, Mayes has consistently ranked among the most conservative members of the Legislature. As a senator, Mayes authored and passed the Save Women’s Sports Act, prohibiting men from unfairly competing in women’s collegiate sports.

Prior to serving in the Texas Senate, Mayes served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, representing Chambers and Galveston Counties. During his last term in the Texas House, Mayes served as Chairman of the Texas House Freedom Caucus.

He believes in public service, not self-service. That is why Mayes has rejected the state pension and healthcare and donates his entire state salary to local charities.

Mayes has a law degree from The University of Texas Law School and has been licensed to practice law since 2008.

Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne

Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne proudly represents the 24th Congressional District of Texas, which includes portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties.

Prior to being elected to Congress, Beth served as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Mayor of Irving, Irving City Council Member, and a businesswoman.  In 2017, Beth was appointed to serve as the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Southwest Region. 

Before being named Administrator, Beth was the first woman elected to serve as the Mayor of Irving from 2011 to 2017 after beginning her career in public service as an Irving City Council Representative from 2004 to 2010.

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Throughout Beth’s career, she has worked with small startup companies, mid-size private companies and Fortune 500 corporations alike. Beth also ran a consulting business where she helped executives develop strategic business plans as well as negotiation strategies, grassroots coalition building and federal and state legislative policy strategies.

After graduating magna cum laude from Cornell University, Beth moved back to Irving, Texas, which has been her home for over 30 years. Proud mother to Katie and Pearce, Beth was only the second Republican woman from Texas to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Senator Angela Paxton

Angela Paxton was elected to the Texas Senate in November of 2018 and represents fast-growing Senate District 8, a district that is home to professional sports headquarters, dozens of Fortune 1000 companies, countless entrepreneurs and small businesses, and top-rated public schools.  A secondary math teacher and school counselor for more than 20 years, she is the first educator elected to the Texas Senate in over two decades.  Senator Paxton describes her job in three words: Listen. Learn. Lead.

Senator Paxton is an adopted child and the first person in her family to graduate from college.  She earned an undergraduate degree in Mathematical Science from Baylor University and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Senator Paxton leverages her expertise as an educator, interest in technology, experience as a small business owner, and deep roots in Senate District 8 to advocate for her constituents and lead on policy that elevates educational and economic opportunity and human dignity.