Washington, DC – Tonight LGBTQ Victory Fund candidates Erin Maye Quade and Clare Oumou Verbeten won the elections for Minnesota’s 56th and 66th state Senate Districts. With these historic victories, both are now the first out LGBTQ women and first Black women ever elected to the Minnesota state Senate. A record number of LGBTQ people ran for the Minnesota state legislature this year, all 11 of whom won their elections tonight. With these historic wins, LGBTQ representation has more than doubled in the state legislature and tripled in the state Senate.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, issued the following statement:
“Minnesota saw a Rainbow Wave of state legislative candidates this year because it is crystal clear that the future of abortion rights, LGBTQ equality and so much more will be decided in state legislatures in the coming months. Erin and Clare have the deep policy experience and grassroots support to be effective leaders in Saint Paul. Voters were clearly excited by their vision for a more equitable and inclusive society. With relentless efforts to diminish our community’s political power, it’s never been more important to elect pro-equality, pro-choice leaders. Tonight, Minnesota voters delivered.”
There are currently just five out LGBTQ state legislators in Minnesota, none of whom are Black women, according to LGBTQ Victory Institute. To reach equitable representation, the U.S. must elect 346 more out LGBTQ people to state legislatures.
Victory Fund is tracking Election Night results at victoryfund.org/2022.
_________________
LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
