WASHINGTON, DC — Today, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is proud to announce its March endorsement slate of LGBTQ+ candidates running for office, which includes 35 new and incumbent candidates from 19 states — Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin.
Highlights of this endorsement cycle include: Incumbent Connecticut State Treasurer Erick Russell is a steady and effective leader advancing responsible fiscal management while expanding economic opportunity, whose continued service ensures strong LGBTQ+ representation in statewide office. Precious Brady-Davis, one of the first openly transgender elected officials in Illinois, has led on environmental sustainability and public health protections, and is running for re-election as a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. In Nevada, Devon Reese is running for mayor of Reno after focusing on economic development, housing, and building a more inclusive city for all residents on the City Council. In North Carolina, incumbent State Representative Deborah Butler continues to be a leading voice for equality and working families in the state legislature, where her leadership remains critical to advancing protections for LGBTQ+ North Carolinians. And in Wisconsin, Madison Common Councilmember Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford is part of a historic wave of transgender leaders seeking state legislative office, bringing a strong focus on education, equity, and community investment to her campaign for State Assembly.
To date, 163 candidates have received LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s endorsement for the 2026 campaign cycle. To earn LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s endorsement, a candidate must be an out member of the LGBTQ+ community who supports LGBTQ+ equality and the right to bodily autonomy and demonstrates a path to victory.
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorses the following candidates:
Incumbents Endorsed March 2026
Joseph Ayala (he/him) – Simi Valley City Council, District 1, CA
Precious Brady-Davis (she/her) – Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners, IL
Deb Butler (she/her) – North Carolina House of Representatives, District 18
Ashanti Martinez (he/him) – Maryland House of Delegates, District 22
Neil Polzin (he/him) – Covina City Treasurer, CA
Erick Russell (he/him) – Connecticut State Treasurer
New Endorsed Candidates March 2026
AJ Bailey (he/they) – Katy City Council, At-Large, TX
Aaron Baker (she/her) – Georgia House of Representatives, District 51
Brady Bremer (he/him) – Montana House of Representatives, District 64
Marpheen Chann (he/him) – Cumberland County Commission, District 5, ME
Lena Chipman (they/she) – Shelby County Commission, District 13, TN
Jodi Cleesattle (she/her) – San Diego County Superior Court Judge, Seat No. 31, CA
Joshua Coyne (he/him) – San Diego City Council, District 2, CA
Miguel Ángel Dávila Uzcátegui (he/him) – Nevada State Assembly, District 15
John Erickson (he/him) – California State Senate, District 24
George Ferrie (they/them) – Denton City Council, At-Large, Place 5, TX
Ryan Florek (he/him) – Member of Ward Executive Committee, Ward 66, Division 35
Jason Landau Goodman (he/they) – Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 148
Daniel Holtmeyer (he/him) – Arkansas House of Representatives, District 15
Scott Houston (he/him) – California State Assembly, District 66
Brandon Huckaby (he/him) – Knox County Commission, District 3, TN
Evelyn Kocher (she/her) – Beaverton City Council, Position 1, OR
Rachel Maes (she/her) – Brown County Board of Supervisors, District, WI
Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford (she/her) – Wisconsin State Assembly, District 76
Marcus Mrowka (he/him) – Maine House of Representatives, District 41
Jesus Nieto (he/him) – Katy ISD School Board Trustee, Position 5, TX
Jamie Palumbo (he/him) – Kentucky House of Representatives, District 76
Maria Hinojos Pressey (she/her) – Marion County Commission, Position 2, OR
William (Mark) Proctor (he/him) – Tennessee House of Representatives, District 59
Devon Reese (he/him) – Mayor of Reno, NV
Andrew Roberts (he/him) – Huntertown Town Council, IN
Shane Seeman (he/him) – Janesville City Council, WI
Cody Smith (he/him) – Iowa House of Representatives, District 33
Aria Trucios (they/them) – Dane County Board of Supervisors, District 9, WI
Carl Wilson (he/him) – New York City Council, District 3, NY
Find a searchable database of all endorsed candidates on the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund website, here. For interviews and additional background on LGBTQ+ candidates running nationwide, contact press@victoryfund.org.
About LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of out 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 LGBTQ+ candidates win local, state and federal elections. victoryfund.org
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