Cunningham would be among the first openly LGBTQ Black members of Congress;
Six New Endorsements Brings Victory Fund’s Total Endorsements to 272 for the Year
Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed six LGBTQ candidates in their 2020 races – including three candidates for U.S. Congress. Among the endorsees is Will Cunningham, running for New Jersey’s 2nd District, Beth Doglio, running for Washington’s 10th Congressional District, and Alex Morse, running for Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District. If elected in November, Cunningham and Doglio would become the first out LGBTQ members of Congress from their states and Morse the state’s first out LGBTQ member since Barney Frank left office in 2013. Cunningham would also be among the first openly LGBTQ Black members of Congress.
Victory Fund has endorsed 272 openly LGBTQ candidates in 2020 and is on-track to endorse more than 300 – the most in its 29-year history. Among them are 17 active endorsed candidates for the U.S. Congress – including the seven incumbent representatives.
“We have a historic opportunity to more than double the number of LGBTQ members of the U.S. House in 2020 – and Will Cunningham, Beth Doglio and Alex Morse are key to making that happen,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “LGBTQ people remain severely underrepresented in the U.S. Congress and it is essential that the chamber becomes more reflective of the society it serves. When LGBTQ people are in the halls of power, they change the hearts and minds of skeptical colleagues and bring people around to supporting our cause. They act as role models for LGBTQ youth who are struggling with their identity – showing them they can follow their dreams and be whoever they want to be. LGBTQ elected officials are transformative – especially when at the highest levels of government – and we are proud to support all 17 of our LGBTQ Congressional candidates who are determined to bring positive change to Capitol Hill.”
Already this year, two openly LGBTQ Black candidates for Congress – Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres – won their Democratic primaries and will almost certainly win their elections in November. With a win for Cunningham in the primary tomorrow and the general election in November, he will join Jones and Torres in becoming the first out LGBTQ Black members of Congress in U.S. history.
“We need more members of Congress who understand the experiences and struggles of the people they represent,” continued Mayor Parker. “As an openly LGBTQ Black man who grew up in poverty and experienced homelessness, Will Cunningham will bring a unique perspective to the issues facing our nation and ensure underserved communities are not forgotten. If Will wins his primary on Tuesday, America will have the opportunity to elect three openly LGBTQ Black members of Congress in November – and that would be transformative.”
The complete list of candidate endorsements announced today is below. You can see all Victory Fund endorsed candidates at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.
Game Changer Candidate Endorsements:
William Cunningham
U.S. House of Representatives, NJ-2
Primary: 7/7/20 General: 11/3/20
Beth Doglio
U.S. House of Representatives, WA-10
Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20
Alex Morse
U.S. House of Representatives, MA-01
Primary: 9/1/20 General: 11/3/20
Incumbent Endorsements:
Kim Abbott
Montana House of Representatives, District 83
General: 11/3/20
Marisabel Cabrera
Wisconsin State Assembly, District 9
Primary: 8/11/20 General: 11/3/20
Chris Hillmann
Hasbrouck Heights (NJ) City Council, At-Large
Primary: 7/7/20 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.
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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.
