Today we have 14 endorsed candidates and one recall vote on the ballot in 6 states. Learn more about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates at https://victoryfund.org/our-candidates/.
Recall Election
Felix Rivera – NO On Recall, Anchorage, AK Assembly
Felix came to Alaska for college and never left. His work as Constituent Relations and Special Assistant for the Mayor’s Office helped to prepare him for his role as Assembly Member and Chair. His passion is making a difference in the lives of people in his community; and he has been able to do this by not only serving on the Assembly, but by sitting on the board of directors for several nonprofits that help those in need. Writing and journalism is another way Felix has been able to make an impact. While studying journalism at APU he covered local events around town as well as wrote for an international wire service. His stories were published around the world. Felix considers his proudest accomplishment to be “helping fight and eventually obtain protections for LGBTQ Anchorage residents in employment, housing, and public accommodations.”
Now, months after trying and failing to defeat his reelection campaign, Rivera’s conservative colleagues have successfully petitioned for a vote to recall Felix from his position, and he needs our support to continue serving the people of Anchorage!
Poll Times
Ballots began going out to voters on March 15, and Anchorage Vote Centers opened up on March 29. Polls are open until 8 pm local time. You can view voting results here.
Candidates
Jackie Gunderson- Mayor of Bloomington, IL
Candidate Biography
Jackie Gunderson is a clear-sighted leader who is dedicated to ensuring Bloomington is a welcoming and inclusive city where everyone has a seat at the table. She possesses the motivation, creativity, and leadership skills necessary to serve and represent Bloomington residents.
Jackie is a Procurement Manager at Illinois State University, responsible for construction and facilities purchases, public bidding and solicitation processes, evaluating proposals, securing contracts, and reporting to the State of Illinois. She has previous leadership experience in environmental, health, safety, and risk management in a manufacturing setting.
Outside of her professional roles, she serves as the Director of the Penguin Project of McLean County, a non-profit organization creating unrestricted access to the performing arts for children and young adults with developmental disabilities.
She is an active member of Hope United Methodist Church and volunteers with Healing Rides ministry through Wesley United Methodist Church. Jackie also serves as co-lead facilitator for the Friends Like Us youth group offered by Central Illinois PRIDE Health Center, and volunteers her time with Special Olympics.
When she has some free time, you can find her in her favorite pair of roller skates playing roller derby, enjoying Constitution Trail, or hanging out with her spouse, Cecil, a small business owner, and their senior rescue dogs at home.
Election Summary
Jackie is running for the open Mayoral position against two more conservative opponents, local church Operations Director Mike Straza and City Councilperson Mboka Mwilambwe. As the city is solidly Democratic, Jackie’s consolidated progressive support makes her well-positioned to become Bloomington’s first out, queer Mayor.
Poll Times
Early voting ran from March 12th through April 5th. Polls are open from 6am until 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Nick Kachiroubas – Crystal Lake, IL City Clerk
Candidate Biography
Nick Kachiroubas has served as elected City Clerk of the City of Crystal Lake, IL since 2009 and is up for re-election to a four year term on April 6, 2021 in Illinois Consolidated Election. The City Clerk is a part-time position in Crystal Lake’s form of municipal government and Nick’s full-time job is as a Teaching Professor in the School of Public Service at DePaul University in Chicago. Dr. Kachiroubas holds a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University and is research interests include leadership and the role of presidential Chief of Staff; Illinois municipal economic development, and Chicago mayoral policy and politics.
Election Summary
Nick is unopposed in his re-election campaign, and will thus continue to serve the people of Crystal Lake for another four years!
Poll Times
Early voting ran from March 22nd through April 5th. Polls are open from 6am until 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Emily Gilbert – Schaumburg, IL Library Trustee
Candidate Biography
Emily Gilbert is a bisexual librarian and mom running for Library Trustee in the Schaumburg Township Library District in Illinois. She was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and has lived in the Schaumburg area since 2008.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in French from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She has spent her career in college libraries, and for the past five years has worked for Rasmussen University as a Health Sciences Librarian. She also teaches an undergraduate research course at Rasmussen, which she finds particularly fulfilling. Emily is active in the local library community, currently serving as Vice/President Elect for the Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries
With ten years of experience in librarianship and a deep knowledge of library issues, Emily plans to use her experience and passion to be a voice for her community and ensure that the library remains a welcoming, inclusive space for all patrons.
Election Summary
Emily is running for one of the four seats on the Library Board, three of which are held by incumbents. Among the candidates are conservative Board President Anita Forte-Scott, progressive Treasurer David Bonen, and conservative appointee Erin Flannigan-Davies, whose outspoken opposition to social justice and equity galvanized Emily’s candidacy. Additional candidates include Amy Mueller, Carolyn Pye, and perennial spite candidate William Olson.
Poll Times
Early voting began on March 22nd and ran through April 05th. Polls are open from 6am until 7pm CT.
Scott Lennon- Berwyn, IL Alderman, Ward 1
Candidate Biography
Berwyn Alderman Scott Lennon is a 19-year resident of Berwyn, where he lives with his partner of 21 years. Berwyn welcomed them with open arms and they both decided they would give back to the city they have grown to love. Lennon was instrumental in the creation of Berwyn’s Integrated Marketing Campaign, where he marketed the city as the 3rd largest gay community outside of Chicago. He has marketed the City to the LGBTQ community for the last 16 years at Northalsted Market Days, one of the largest neighborhood LGBTQ Block Party in the country. Lennon, his gay brother, and his partner organized the 1st Pride Walk in the City of Berwyn. He served for 11 years as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Berwyn Development Corporation, and he has served on many committees throughout the City of Berwyn throughout his 19 years.
Election Summary
As Scott emerged victorious in the February 2021 Democratic primary, he is unopposed on the general election ballot, and thus guaranteed to continue serving for another four years.
Poll Times
Polls are open from 6am to 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Jose Ramirez – Berwyn, IL Alderman, Ward 2
Candidate Biography
Jose Ramirez is the incumbent 2nd Ward Alderman running for his second term in Berwyn, Illinois. He is running because there is a need for independent voices that fight for everyone to have a seat at the table. Jose believes when one group is marginalized we all suffer.
Jose is the product of immigrant parents who came here searching for a better life, and he believes it is his duty to make this country better for everyone seeking a better life.
Jose has been with his husband, Thomas Stebbins for 31 years and happily married for the last 8 yrs. He has 2 wonderful children finishing up their senior year in college.
Election Summary
Although Jose was first elected as a Democrat, he has been forced to run for reelection as an Independent after the local Democratic machine got behind Park District Commissioner James Woywod, part of a long-running divide in the city between the party machine and reform-oriented candidates.
Poll Times
Polls are open from 6am to 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Kristal Larson – Avon Township, IL Clerk
Candidate Biography
Kristal Larson is a lifelong resident of Avon Township, currently residing in Hainesville with her spouse and two children for the past twelve years. She started her own technology and consulting business in 2003 as a small web development company. In 2008, she elected to make this a full-time effort and has since travelled the country working with local, national and international companies providing advice and implementing solutions to meet unique challenges of the business-to-business environment.
Throughout her life, Kristal has believed in serving her community. She is a former basketball coach, referee and leader for Upward basketball at Faith Church in Grayslake and later at Immanuel Church in Gurnee, serving for ten years. She has served as Treasurer for Union Square Homeowners Association for the past twelve years.
She is a former elected Avon Township Trustee who worked for financial accountability and transparency. While in office she led the development of updating a number of policies and procedures and attended numerous community meetings to understand and help address the needs of residents of Avon Township.
Kristal remains active in the community. She is a current board member of A Safe Place For Help supporting victims of domestic violence throughout Lake County, a member of PFlag of Grayslake/Round Lake advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, serves as Treasurer of Union Square Homeowners Association, and a member of the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce.
Election Summary
Kristal has partnered with six other reform-oriented candidates in a united slate called “Avon Focused.” Larson has two opponents in this nonpartisan election. Yersina Jayce Ochoa is a realtor and volunteers with local Catholic Charities, while Terry Wilke is the incumbent Avon Township Supervisor and a current Lake County Board Member. He runs a 501c3 food pantry at the township building. There have been multiple ethics complaints and allegations of malfeasance, and he was recently censured by the town board, all of whom were his running mates in the last election.
Poll Times
Early voting ran from March 22nd through April 05th. Polls are open from 6am until 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Our Involvement
We raised the profile of this race via media release, listserv, and social media, including a high-profile defense of Kristal in the face of ugly, transphobic mailers sent by her opponent.
Michael Campbell – Fox River Grove, IL Memorial Library Board Trustee
Candidate Biography
Michael Campbell is an educational consultant and entrepreneur. Michael has been a fan of libraries since he was a kid in Louisiana, riding his bike to check out his favorite titles. Since he and his husband and daughter moved to Fox River Grove over ten years ago the Memorial Library has played an important part in their family from kids books, video games, movies, family programs, and much more. Even throughout the pandemic, his family continued to use the library with the many digital resources.
Michael grew up in Louisiana and after graduating from Southern Arkansas University, spent over 20 years in educational publishing, before moving to educational technology and consulting in K-12 and higher education.
In 2014, Michael was appointed to the Fox River Grove Memorial Library Board and was elected to the board in 2015. Since that time he was elected to the RAILS board of directors, where he is currently serving as the Board President. Michael has also served as the committee chair of the Advocacy Committee for RAILS during his tenure on the board.
With his unique experiences in education, publishing, and regional, and state library, strategic management, plus LGBTI issues. Michael brings a unique perspective to the board.
Election Summary
Michael is unopposed in his campaign for a second term, and will thus be able to continue as a strong voice on the Library Board through the next four years.
Poll Times
Early voting ran from March 12th through April 5th. Polls are open from 6am until 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Bill Stephens – Saint Louis, MO Alderman, Ward 12
Candidate Biography
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Bill was raised in both the Southeastern village of Marquand, Missouri and the North County streets of Hazelwood, Missouri. As the only openly gay student at his conservative Lutheran high school, Bill persevered and was the first in his immediate family to graduate. Bill didn’t stop there — he went on to a four-year university not once, but twice: Webster University and Saint Louis University, where he studied French Language and Literature and currently studies Greek & Latin Language and Literature.
Throughout his educational pursuits, Bill held active and prominent roles in the St. Louis LGBTQIA+ community, from being a member of Growing American Youth and eventually its youngest-ever board member, to becoming the Archivist and Library Coordinator for Pride St. Louis, to championing Drag Queen Storytime as the preeminent Drag Queen Storyteller in Missouri. In this role, he also presented on the subject at both the Missouri Library Association Conference (2018) and the American Library Association Conference (2020).
As a public library professional, Bill saw daily the effects of unjust legal and social barriers on the lives of everyday citizens, which inspired him to run for a legislative role in St. Louis, Missouri.
Bill leads both his campaign and his life with two simple tenets: Fierce compassion, radical empathy. He’s excited for the opportunity to bring both to the St. Louis Board of Alderman.
Election Summary
After advancing out of a March primary election, Stephens is challenging incumbent Alderman Vicki Grass, who was narrowly elected in a 2020 special election. As Grass has only held office for a brief tenure, and has proven inaccessible to her constituents in that brief tenure, Stephens sees a clear path to victory, and to becoming the first openly gay Alderman elected in the traditionally conservative 12th Ward.
Poll Times
Absentee/early voting ran from March 15th through April 05th. Polls open at 6am and close at 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Tom Beckius – Lincoln, NE City Council, At-Large
Candidate Biography
Tom Beckius grew up as the son of small business owners who taught him to work hard, be honest and treat others fairly. As a husband, stepfather and small business owner himself, Tom is running to continue the legacy of keeping Lincoln, Nebraska, a great place to raise a family, build a career and enjoy our lives together.
He has served as a Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commissioner since 2017 and has helped move Lincoln forward through his involvement in the public school system, area nonprofits and the business community.
Tom has served on the boards of the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln City Libraries, Lincoln’s Young Professionals Group, Lincoln Commission on Human Rights, OutNebraska and NextGen at Lincoln Community Foundation. Tom also serves on the Community Advisory Council for Lincoln Public Schools and is a former member of the President’s Advisory Council for the University of Nebraska.
Tom works in the real estate and construction industries and is the owner of Nebraska Brokerage. He is married and has one awesome stepdaughter. In his free time, Tom enjoys traveling, cooking, working in his yard and spending time with family and friends.
Election Summary
Three seats, all of which are held by incumbents (one of whom, Sändra Washington, is also endorsed by VF), are up in this election. Tom is vying to unseat Republican incumbent Roy Christensen, who barely came in third place four years ago and is thus vulnerable to a challenge. Other candidates include Democratic incumbent Bennie Shobe and socially conservative challenger Mary Hilton.
Poll Times
Early voting ran from March 22nd through April 5th. Polls are open from 8am until 8pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Sändra Washington – Lincoln, NE City Council, At-Large
Candidate Biography
Sändra Washington has called Lincoln home for 30 years. Washington worked with the National Park Service for nearly 25 years, holding many different positions in planning, training/development, environmental compliance, and as a park superintendent before becoming Midwest Chief of Planning. Sändra retired as Midwest Associate Regional Director for Cultural Resources, Planning, Construction, Communications, Legislation & Congressional Affairs.
Sändra Washington served multiple terms on the Homestead Girl Scout Board of Directors, the Lincoln Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, and as a Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commissioner before her appointment to City Council in June 2019. Sändra is a recent recipient of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce’s Community Builder Award, co-chairs the Affordable Housing Consortium, sits on the Hold Cops Accountable Steering Committee and multiple boards: Lincoln Community Foundation, Nebraska Trails Foundation, and National Parks & Conservation Association. In the summer of 2020, Sändra founded “Together One Lincoln”, a community partnership to combat racial inequity.
Sändra, her twin sister and older brother were raised in the Columbus, Ohio area. She credits her mother with her love of music and her father for her love of the out-of-doors. Sändra holds degrees from Ohio State University. She lives with her spouse, Deb Cirksena, their daughter, Bella and canine companion, Wally. They all enjoy travel and sports.
Election Summary
As an appointed incumbent, Sändra is well-positioned to win a full term as one of the three at-large members of the City Council. Fellow candidates include Victory-endorsed Tom Beckius, Democratic incumbent Bennie Shobe, right-wing incumbent Roy Christensen, conservative challenger Mary Hilton, moderate Republican Bill Austin, Democrat Aurang Zab, and Black Lives Matter activist Dominique Liu-Sang.
Poll Times
Early voting ran from March 22nd through April 5th. Polls are open from 8am until 8pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Adam Graham – The Village, OK City Council, Ward 3
Candidate Biography
The Village is a diverse community right in the heart of Oklahoma City. Adam currently runs a local PR & Political Consulting firm (Bison Strategies) and most recently served as the Managing Director of 46 Creative, an OKC-based marketing and PR firm.
Adam often hears that his experience is far more extensive than one would expect of someone his age. He was still in high school when he founded a non-profit organization assisting children in Oklahoma with serious medical conditions. After college, he started working on local campaigns that turned into a business through which he has run various campaigns from statewide to local.
Adam was elected to the City Council in April of 2018 and as the youngest ever and first LGBTQ member to serve the city. The Village is home to a diverse community that deserves a supportive local municipal leadership that is accountable to and in touch with the community it represents. He is happy with the work the Council has done over the last couple of years and hopes to continue serving as a key contributor to the city.
Election Summary
Adam is running unopposed for his second term.
Poll Times
Voters had until March 30th to request an absentee ballot. Polls are open from 7am until 7pm CT.
Paula Lewis – Oklahoma City, OK Public School Board Chair
Candidate Biography
Paula Lewis has served as the Chair for the Oklahoma City Public School Board since 2017. She is running for re-election and the vote will be on April 6th, 2021. She is a proud public school mom, a successful business owner, and an advocate for all kids. Paula is a licensed occupational therapist and a mom to two boys, one currently enrolled in OKCPS and the other serves our country in the US Army.
Election Summary
Following a February primary election, Paula advanced to a runoff with Oklahoma City Public School Board Member Charles Henry, who has benefitted from the strong financial backing of charter school advocates. Paula has assembled an unlikely coalition of labor unions, community leaders, moderate Republicans, the Chamber of Commerce, and progressives, and is counting on that coalition to win another 4 years as Board Chair.
Poll Times
Voters had until March 30th to request an absentee ballot. Polls are open from 7am until 7pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Larry Palm – Dane County, WI Supervisor, District 12
Candidate Biography
Larry Palm has a long of serving the Madison community. When Larry was 23 he started a chapter of GLSEN as an out school district employee. Larry was pivotal in creating school based GSAs, hosting conferences (including the 1999 Midwest Lesbian, Gay Bisexual Transgender College Conference) and providing opportunities for our district’s students, staff and families to be who they area.
In addition to working for one of Madison’s alternative high schools, Larry is passionate about libraries as community centers and served on the Madison Public Library Board for 19 years – working to establish a new central library and reinvigorate local branch libraries.
Elected to the Madison Common Council in 2013, Larry served on many committees to support his residents. Larry served on the city’s Finance Committee, Board of Public Works, and as chair of the area MPO. In 2017, he organized the community’s response to the closure of the Oscar Mayer headquarters and planning for a strong reuse that benefits the greater community.
Larry continues to Chair the Regional Planning Commission – bringing together all our local communities to improve the environment through better land use and is involved in bringing a Public Market back to Madison.
Election Summary
Larry’s campaign for reelection faces only nominal opposition from local resident Goodwill Chekwube Obieze, meaning he is in a strong position to secure a third term as Supervisor.
Poll Times
Polls are open from 7am until 8pm CT. You can view voting results here.
Patrick Heck – City of Madison, WI Alder, District 2
Candidate Biography
Patrick Heck is in his first term as District 2 alder. He has lived in Madison and the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood since 2003. He is a climate and weather researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison who moved to Madison from Virginia where he chaired the statewide LGBTQ lobbying organization Virginians for Justice, now known as Equality Virginia. Prior to being elected alder in 2019, he was a member of the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association Council and chaired their Development Committee. He chaired many steering committees that evaluated development proposals in the neighborhood, including along E. Washington. He sits on many committees and boards, including Plan Commission, the Public Safety Review Committee, the Housing Strategies Committee, the Board of the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Downtown Coordinating Committee, and The Beacon Community Advisory Team.
Election Summary
Heck’s sole opponent is Benji Ramirez, a local 20 year-old nonbinary Latinx activist who has run a nontraditional campaign without seeking party endorsements.
Poll Times
Polls are open from 7am until 8pm CT. You can view voting results here.
