Jolie Justus, a former Missouri state senator, last night became the first openly LGBTQ candidate to win election to the Kansas City Council.
The Victory Fund, which backed her campaign, hailed the results as a sign of progress in the Midwest. “We’re thrilled for Jolie and for Kansas City,” said Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “This is a big victory for the LGBTQ community in the Kansas City region, because Jolie will be a powerful voice for them and all her constituents as a member of the city council.”
Justus won with more than 76 percent of the vote in an election year that saw more women and more people of color running for and winning council seats.
