Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed 27 more openly LGBTQ candidates for 2020 races. Eight candidates received Spotlight endorsements – including four who were previously endorsed – and a total of 16 state legislative candidates received endorsements. Victory Fund has endorsed 146 active state legislative candidates this cycle, many of them in key races that can unseat an anti-LGBTQ incumbent or determine control of chambers and influence redistricting.
Newly endorsed candidates that received Spotlight endorsements include:
- Tiara Mack, running for the Rhode Island State Senate against an anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ Democratic incumbent, would be one of the few Black openly LGBTQ state senators in the U.S.;
- Michele Rayner and Jasmen Rogers-Shaw, both running for the Florida state House. Either would become the first Black openly LGBTQ women elected to the state legislature; and
- Zach Stepp, who would restore LGBTQ representation to the Ohio state House.
Previously endorsed candidates upgraded to Spotlight endorsements include:
- Jabari Brisport, who would become the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the New York state legislature;
- Brendan Johnson and Jody LaMacchia, both running for Michigan state House seats considered critical to flipping the chamber to a pro-equality majority; and
- Dan Smith, running for a Pennsylvania state House seat held by one of the most anti-LGBTQ state legislators in the nation, Daryl Metcalfe.
“LGBTQ candidates are running for state legislative seats in unprecedented numbers and their races can determine control of chambers in Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin, among others,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “These leaders will block the anti-LGBTQ bills flooding our state legislatures and demand inclusive legislation that respects and protects our community. But their candidacies are about more than just equality. Our LGBTQ candidates can have an enormous impact on American politics in 2020 – including redistricting – and if they win, the country will be better off for it.”
This latest slate brings Victory Fund’s endorsements to 267 for the 2020 election cycle. Victory Fund expects to endorse more than 300 candidates this year – the most in its 29-year history. A complete list of endorsed candidates is available on the Victory Fund website at victoryfund.org.
The complete list of candidate endorsements announced today is below:
Spotlight Candidate Endorsements:
Tiara Mack
Rhode Island State Senate, District 6
Primary: 9/8/20 General: 11/3/20
Michele Rayner
Florida House of Representatives, District 70
Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20
Jasmen Rogers-Shaw
Florida House of Representatives, District 95
Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20
Zach Stepp
Ohio House of Representatives, District 55
General: 11/3/20
Previously Endorsed Candidates Upgraded to Spotlight Endorsements:
Jabari Brisport
New York State Senate, District 25
Primary: 6/23/20 General 11/3/20
Brendan Johnson
Michigan House of Representatives, District 45
Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20
Jody LaMacchia
Michigan House of Representatives, District 46
Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20
Dan Smith
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 12
General: 11/3/20
General Candidate Endorsements:
JoAnna Bautch
Wisconsin State Assembly, District 8
Primary: 8/11/20 General 11/3/20
Torrey Harris
Tennessee House of Representatives, District 90
Primary: 8/6/20 General: 11/3/20
Joshua Hicks
Florida House of Representatives, District 11
Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20
Justin Holsomback
Fulton County (GA) Commission, District 2
General: 11/3/20
Jessica Katzenmeyer
Wisconsin State Assembly, District 15
Primary: 8/11/20 General 11/3/20
Armando Montero
Tempe (AZ) Union High School District Governing Board
General: 11/3/20
Travis Radina
Ann Arbor (MI) City Council, Ward 3
Priamry: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20
Lorenzo Sanchez
Texas House of Representatives, District 67
Runoff: 7/11/20 General: 11/3/20
Taylor Small
Vermont House of Representatives, Chittenden 6-7
Primary: 8/11/20 General: 11/3/20
Lee Snodgrass
Wisconsin State Assembly, District 57
Primary: 8/11/20 General 11/3/20
Eric-John Szczepaniak
Alpine (MI) Township Clerk
Primary: 8/4/20 General 11/3/20
Brandon Thomas
Tennessee House of Representatives, District 49
Primary: 8/6/20 General: 11/3/20
Chris Walton
Wisconsin State Assembly, District 17
Primary: 8/11/20 General 11/3/20
2020 Incumbent Endorsements:
Adriann Barboa
Bernalillo (NM) County Commission, District 3
General: 11/3/20
Cecelia González
Nevada State Assembly, District 16
General: 11/3/2020
Christy Gilbert Holstege
Palm Springs (CA) City Council, District 4
General: 11/3/20
Laurie Jinkins
Washington House of Representatives, District 27, Position 1
Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20
Teri Johnston
Mayor of Key West (FL)
Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20
Alexander Kithes
Woonsocket (RI) City Council, At-Large
Primary: 9/8/20 General: 11/3/20
Dominick Moreno
Colorado State Senate, District 21
Primary: 6/30/20 General: 11/3/20
Israel Ramon
Milwaukee (WI) County Register of Deeds
Primary: 8/11/20 General: 11/3/20
Janelle Sarauw
U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature
Primary: 8/1/20 General: 11/3/20
Helen Whitener
Washington State Supreme Court, Position 6
Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20
More information about the candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
