The 44th president has endorsed 22 LGBTQ candidates so far this cycles
Washington, DC –Today former President Barack Obama announced his endorsement of 17 openly LGBTQ candidates for governor, U.S. Congress and state offices – including Christine Hallquist for governor of Vermont and Sharice Davids for a U.S. House seat from Kansas. President Obama previously endorsed five openly LGBTQ candidates in his first round of endorsements, for a total of 22 openly LGBTQ candidates nationwide. All 22 of the LGBTQ candidates are endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund.
“President Obama is endorsing candidates who are passionate about public service and committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives, so it is unsurprising so many of our LGBTQ candidates are on the list,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “The experiences and struggles of LGBTQ leaders make them authentic, values-driven candidates who understand the pain and difficulties so many are facing right now. We are part of every community and every constituency – women, people of color, immigrants and religious minorities – and that diversity strengthens and refines our perspectives. LGBTQ people are running for office in historic numbers not just because our community needs us, but because America needs us.”
President Obama’s newly endorsed LGBTQ candidates are below. Previously he endorsed LGBTQ candidates Jared Polis(Colorado governor), Katie Hill (U.S. House, CA-25), Rochelle Galindo (Colorado House of Representatives, District 50), Taylor Sappington (Ohio House of Representatives, District 94), and Matt Wilson (Georgia House of Representatives, District 80).
Gubernatorial
Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon
Christine Hallquist, Governor of Vermont
U.S. Senate
Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Senate (WI)
Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. Senate (AZ)
U.S. House
Lauren Baer, U.S. House (FL-18)
Angie Craig, U.S. House (MN-2)
Sharice Davids, U.S. House (KS-3)
Gina Ortiz Jones, U.S. House (TX-23)
Chris Pappas, U.S. House (NH-1)
Statewide
Nelson Araujo, Nevada Secretary of State
State Legislature
Julian Cyr, Massachusetts State Senate (Cape & Islands District)
Gerri Cannon, New Hampshire House of Representatives (District 18)
Mason Donovan, New Hampshire State Senate (District 7)
Julie Johnson, Texas House of Representatives (District 115)
Melanie Scheible, Nevada State Senate (District 9)
Kristin Seale, Pennsylvania House of Representatives (District 168)
Lee Snodgrass, Wisconsin State Senate (District 19)
LGBTQ Victory Fund has endorsed 272 openly LGBTQ candidates this year – the most in its 27-year history. The record-breaking numbers reflect the Rainbow Wave of LGBTQ candidates running for office this year and the potential to dramatically increase the number of LGBTQ elected officials at every level of government.
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.
