Victory volunteers hold signs as Jackie Biskupski waves to voters.
LGBTQ voters have much to celebrate following the 2015 General Elections this Tuesday, despite some notable setbacks including the failure to approve an equal rights ordinance in Houston.
Overall, 45 Victory Fund endorsed candidates won election in 2015 nationwide: 29 won Tuesday night and 16 won in elections held earlier in the year.
Big wins in Utah
Salt Lake City will have its first openly LGBTQ mayor after Jackie Biskupski ousted the two-term incumbent. While the official polling numbers will not be in until November 17, Jackie’s 4.3 percent lead in the race is certain to carry her to the end. Victory staff was happy to help Jackie’s team in a last minute get-out-the-vote effort.
Also in Salt Lake City, Derek Kitchen has likely won a seat on the Salt Lake City Council after becoming known for being part of the court case that brought marriage equality to Utah. After the unofficial election results were released, Derek had 52 percent of the vote.
Midwest success
After facing anti-LGBTQ vandalism and homophobic attacks, Ken Siver came out on top in Southfield, Mich., becoming its mayor with 57 percent of the vote, earning the support of 7,119 voters compared to the opponents’ 5,350.
Shannon Hardin, the first openly LGBTQ African American to hold office in Columbus, Ohio, will continue to serve Ohioans as Columbus’ youngest-ever council member. He won his special election with an overwhelming 70 percent.
Zach Adamson will continue his legacy as the first openly LGBTQ person to win election to a county-wide office in Indiana, after winning reelection. He earned an impressive 85 percent of the overall vote in the race for Indianapolis City Council.
Incumbent South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who earlier this year came out as gay, won reelection with over 80 percent of the vote and with the support of all 85 of the city’s precincts.
Other Victory candidates who won elections on Tuesday include:
Jose Cisneros, San Francisco Treasurer
Geoffrey Kors, Palm Springs, California City Council
JR Roberts, Palm Springs, California City Council
Rochelle Galindo, Greeley, Colorado City Council
Alex Morse, Holyoke, Massachusetts Mayor
Denise Simmons, Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council
Patrick Wojahn, College Park, Maryland Mayor
Em Westerlund, Duluth, Minnesota City Council
Gary Anderson, Duluth, Minnesota City Council
Timothy Eustace, New Jersey General Assembly
Reed Gusciora, New Jersey General Assembly,
Michael DeFusco, Hoboken, New Jersey City Council
Steve Napier, Cohoes, New York Common Council
John McManus, Dayton, Ohio Board of Education
Abbe Fletman, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
Hugh Fitzpatrick McGough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas
Robert Gallegos, Houston City Council
Mark Levine, Virginia House of Delegates
Adam Ebbin, Virginia State Senate
Paul Smedberg, Alexandria, Virginia City Council
Joe McDermott, King County, Washington County Council
Michael Scott, Bainbridge Island, Washington City Council
Ty Stober, Vancouver, Washington City Council
Other LGBTQ candidates who won but didn’t seek an endorsement from Victory include:
Ron Hirth, Mayor of Golf Manor, Ohio
Jon Voelz, Beverly Shores, Indiana Town Council
Sean Murphy, Mayor of Telluride, Colorado