Senior Director of Outreach and Engagement Marty Rouse recently hit the campaign trail for GOTV and campaign events with numerous LGBTQ candidates! Marty met with 30 current elected officials and candidates, many of whom are endorsed by Victory Fund. Check out photos from the campaign trail, learn about each stop and more about the candidates below!
ARIZONA
Arizona is once again a battleground state, with many LGBTQ candidates running in seats that are essential for pro-equality forces. At the top of the ticket, Game Changer candidate Kris Mayes is battling an anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ election denier who routinely lies about his record in the race for Attorney General. And in the Arizona state legislature – which introduced several anti-LGBTQ bills last year – out candidates Lorena Austin (a Spotlight candidate who will make history as the nation’s first out gender non-conforming Chicanx elected to a legislature), Patricia Contreras (who will be one of the first out lesbian Latinas elected to the Arizona legislature) and Oscar De Los Santos (who will be the first out LGBTQ member to represent the District) are ready to fight back. Learn more about our Arizona candidates here!
Top right to left: Marty with Lorena Austin (center) and team, Marty with Oscar De Los Santos. Bottom: Marty with Kris Mayes, Marty with Patty Contreras.
TEXAS
After two years of extremist legislation and anti-LGBTQ legal maneuvers from Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton, LGBTQ Texans have had enough. In the state legislature, Spotlight candidates Venton Jones, Jolanda Jones and Christian Manuel-Hayes are ready to shatter lavender ceilings. Venton and Christian will both be the first Black out LGBTQ men elected to the legislature, while Jolanda made history earlier this year when she won her special election, becoming the first Black out LGBTQ person ever elected to the body. Marty also caught up with incumbent candidates Julie Johnson and Jessica Gonzalez.
Top right to left: Marty with Julie Johnson, Marty with Jessica Gonzalez. Bottom: Marty with Venton Jones, Marty with Venton and Christian Manuel-Hayes.
In Austin, Marty checked in with Spotlight candidate Celia Israel. A long time public servant and state legislator, Celia is now running to make history as the first Latina mayor of a top-20 U.S. city. Learn more about her race here!
Top: Celia (far left) and team hit the campaign trail. Bottom: Marty and Celia hard at work.
NORTH CAROLINA
The final stop on the trip (don’t worry – it won’t be the last trip of the year): the Tar Heel state! Years after the LGBTQ community was rocked by the state’s horrific bathroom bill, LGBTQ people have stepped up to run in droves. First stop: a “Trust Women” rally aimed at galvanizing pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ voters. Incumbent state representative Deb Butler pumped up the crowd, while state Senate candidate Marcia Morgan urged supporters to get out and vote. Marcia is running in a toss-up seat that will ensure bigots don’t gain an anti-equality majority. Learn more about her campaign here!
Top: Marcia Morgan, Marty and Deb prepare for the rally. Bottom: Deb rallies the crowd, Marcia, Deb and Amy with supporters.
Before leaving North Carolina, Marty checked in with Raleigh City Councilor Jonathan Melton and Wake County Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor Jenna Wadsworth. Both Jonathan and Jenna prove that representation in public office is powerful. Keep up the great work, both! 
Top: Marty and Jonathan Melton. Bottom: Jenna Wadsworth on the campaign trail.
More information about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of out LGBTQ+ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
