Washington, DC – Today Pat Hackett won the Democratic primary for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, putting her on-track to become the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from the state. Hackett will face incumbent U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski – an anti-LGBTQ member who consistently votes against non-discrimination protections and other bills supportive of LGBTQ people. Walorski voted against providing spousal benefits to LGBTQ military veterans and supported efforts to classify abortions as “non-essential” during the pandemic.
District 2 includes the city of South Bend, whose former mayor Pete Buttigieg became the first openly LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in U.S. history last year.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about Hackett’s primary victory:
“Pat’s victory sets up a general election battle between a solutions-oriented candidate aiming to unite her district in a time of crisis and an opponent who uses the politics of bigotry to further divide Americans. Even as the pandemic ravaged Indiana and the country, Walorski failed to put aside partisan politics and instead waged war against a woman’s right to choose. Voters now have an opportunity to reject a divisive and destructive politician and instead elect a leader who will represent all her constituents. Pat will make history in becoming the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from Indiana if elected in November. More importantly, she will head to Capitol Hill determined to focus on the real and pressing issues that affect the daily lives of Americans.”
More information about Victory Fund and its 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.
