Historic 68 LGBTQ Candidates on Ballot During Pride Month; More LGBTQ Candidates Running Than Ever Before

Pride Month an opportunity for “renewing our demands for equality and justice for all people and electing to office the leaders committed to securing it.” 

Washington, DC – Sixty-eight openly LGBTQ candidates endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund will appear on primary ballots during Pride Month – the most ever in the organization’s 29-year history. Six out LGBTQ Congressional candidates are among the candidates with primaries in June – five of them non-incumbents – and the results of these races may determine whether LGBTQ representation will double in the U.S. Congress next year. The unprecedented Pride Month opportunities come during a historic election year, with more than 850 openly LGBTQ candidates running for office. It also comes as twin crises tear at the nation and the need for strong and compassionate elected officials has never been greater.

Among the potential history-making opportunities that require primary victories in June:

• Double LGBTQ representation in the U.S. House. Six non-incumbent Victory Fund endorsed Congressional candidates are on the ballot in June. Pat Hackett (IN-02) and John Blair (NM-03) have elections on June 2 and either will become the first out LGBTQ members of Congress in their state. Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Tracy Mitrano (NY-23), Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) have primaries on June 23. Jones would be the first Black out LGBTQ member of Congress, Torres the first Black Latinx out LGBTQ member, and Mitrano the first out LGBTQ woman elected to Congress from New York. There are currently seven out LGBTQ U.S. representatives.
• More than double LGBTQ representation in the Georgia state legislature. Eleven openly LGBTQ endorsed state legislative candidates are on the Georgia primary ballot on June 9 – six of them non-incumbents. Kim Jackson could become the first out LGBTQ state senator in Georgia with a win come November. Non-incumbent candidates Julie Jordan, Marvin Lim, Josh McNair, Mac Sims and Alex Wan could increase LGBTQ representation in the state House from five to 10 with victories in June and November. McNair would also be the first out LGBTQ Black man elected to the state legislature.
• Elect the first out LGBTQ members of the Indiana state House. Garrett Blad and Ashley Klein will become the first out LGBTQ members of the Indiana House of Representatives with primary victories on June 2 and wins in November. 
• Double LGBTQ representation in the Pennsylvania state legislature. Non-incumbent state Senate candidate Brett Burman can become the first out LGBTQ member of the state Senate with a primary victory on June 2 and a win in November. His seat is considered the number one pickup opportunity for Democrats. Jessica Benham, running for a state House seat, would be its first out LGBTQ woman member and one of the first openly autistic state legislators in the country. Representation in the state legislature would increase from two to four.
• Increase LGBTQ representation in the New Mexico state legislature and secure a pro-choice state Senate majority. Carrie Hamblen, Leo Jaramillo and Rebecca Stair are non-incumbent state Senate candidates that can increase LGBTQ representation from two to five with primary victories on June 2 and wins in November. Jaramillo and Hamblen are running against anti-choice incumbents and their victories are critical to securing a pro-choice majority in the state Senate. Roger Montoya, running for the New Mexico state House, will be its first out LGBTQ member with a primary victory in June and general election win in November.
• Double LGBTQ representation in the Oklahoma state legislature. Kyle Meraz and Summer Wesley, both running in the June 30 primary for the Oklahoma state House, would double LGBTQ representation in the state legislature from two to four with general election victories in November.
• Elect the first out trans official in New York state and the first out LGBTQ person of color to the New York state legislature. Kristen Browde, running for the New York state Assembly, will be one step closer to becoming the state’s first out trans elected official with a primary win on June 23. Jabari Brisport would become the first out LGBTQ person of color elected to the New York state legislature if he wins his state senate race.
• Elect the first out Baltimore City Councilmembers. Akil Patterson and Phillip Westry will become the first out LGBTQ members of the Baltimore city council with primary wins on June 2 and victories in November.
• Elect the first out trans person in West Virginia. Rosemary Ketchum, running for Wheeling City Council, will become the first out trans person elected in West Virginia with a primary win on June 9 and victory in November.

Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the Pride Month primaries:

“This Pride Month we have extraordinary opportunities to make political history and dramatically increase our representation in government – with more LGBTQ candidates on the ballot than ever before. It comes at a time when twin crises are tearing at our nation and true leadership is desperately needed. LGBTQ candidates are more diverse than candidates at-large and our lives and experiences make us stronger and more compassionate leaders. Right now, we are seeing LGBTQ elected officials at work – taking a leading role in addressing both the pandemic and the racism that led to the killings of George Floyd and so many others. This Pride Month must be celebrated with purpose, renewing our demands for equality and justice for all people and electing to office the leaders committed to securing it.”

Below is a listing of all 68 Victory Fund endorsed candidates on the ballot during Pride Month (incumbents in bold):

More information about Victory Fund endorsed candidates is available at victoryfund.org/our-candidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.

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LGBTQ Victory Fund

LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.

victoryfund.org