Victory Fund candidate Jenny Durkan made history today, becoming the first openly lesbian candidate to win the Seattle mayoral primary. If she wins the general election in November, she will become the first openly lesbian mayor of the city and just one of two openly lesbian mayors currently representing a major U.S. city.
In a crowded field of 21 candidates, Jenny stood out thanks to her record of public service and civil rights advocacy. As the first ever openly LGBTQ US Attorney, she created a civil rights unit within the US Attorney’s office to fight housing and job discrimination. When Donald Trump announced a ban on Muslim refugees, Jenny was one of the volunteer lawyers who raced to the Sea-Tac Airport and fought to save two illegally-detained travelers from deportation.
“Seattle voters made history in selecting Jenny from a crowded field of challengers – and we are confident she will become the first lesbian mayor of Seattle come November,” said Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, President & CEO of Victory Fund. “As the first openly LGBTQ U.S. attorney in history, Jenny championed police and criminal justice reform, promoted drug and mental health courts to address unnecessary incarceration, and worked to prevent employment and housing discrimination. Jenny is a values-driven leader who has shattered lavender ceilings before, and we will work tirelessly to ensure she shatters another in November.”
Jenny was endorsed by the Seattle Times, which called her “unequivocally the best candidate to be Seattle’s defender in Washington, D.C.,” and lauded her leadership and experience. Jenny was also backed by over 15 environmental advocates, who praised her commitment to making Seattle a modern leader in sustainability, even as the White House tries to move the nation’s environmental protections backwards. Jenny was also backed by local labor unions, including Seattle’s largest union.
Now Jenny is on the verge of making history. It was a big win, but Jenny’s election isn’t over yet! Learn more about Jenny Durkan and how to help out.
Paid for by Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
