State Rep. Simone Bell officially kicked off her re-election campaign on Wednesday, asking friends and supporters to help her secure a second full term. Even more touching was when her longtime partner, Val Acree, made a personal appeal.

Bell is one of four openly gay lawmakers in the Georgia General Assembly. On July 31, she’ll face at least one opponent in the Democratic primary — state Rep. Ralph Long. The two were placed in the same District 58 when GOP lawmakers gerrymandered legislative districts last year. Bell’s campaign event took place at Agave in Cabbagetown.