Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsed candidate Liz Bennett won her primary for Iowa’s 39th state Senate District. With this victory, she is now on track to become the first out LGBTQ women to serve in the Iowa state Senate in history.
According to LGBTQ Victory Institute’s Out for America Map, which tracks out LGBTQ elected officials nationally, there are currently just seven out LGBTQ elected officials in Iowa, none of whom serve in the state Senate. First elected to the state House in 2014, Bennet remains the only out LGBTQ state legislator in Iowa.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, issued the following statement about her win:
“For almost a decade, Liz has been an incredibly effective legislator. During her tenure, she led efforts to address the climate crisis, expand economic opportunity and investment and increase access to high quality education. Despite serving in a body comprised primarily of anti-equality lawmakers, she advocated for and passed key pro-LGBTQ legislation such as a ban on the gay and trans panic legal defense. She has the proven leadership and courage to be a critical voice in the state senate when so many of our fundamental rights and freedoms are on the line. We are proud to support her historic campaign and ensure there is a pro-equality, pro-choice voice in a chamber with zero LGBTQ representation.”
Victory Fund named Bennett a Spotlight candidate, a designation given to state or local candidates in history-making races, that comes with additional support and services from LGBTQ Victory Fund to ensure they win on Election Day.
More information about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates is available at www.victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.
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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.
