Moore would be the first out trans person elected to public office in Louisiana;
Coburn would be the first Black out LGBTQ person elected to the Bozeman (MT) City Commission
Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund – the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office – endorsed 17 LGBTQ candidates and awarded two of them Spotlight Candidate status: Mariah Moore and Chris Coburn. Moore – a former LGBTQ Victory Institute Empowerment Fellow – is running for New Orleans City Council and would be the first out trans person elected to public office in Louisiana and one of just three out LGBTQ elected officials in the entire state. Coburn, who was appointed to the Bozeman City Commission earlier this month, would be the first Black out LGBTQ person elected to the council and remain the only Black out LGBTQ elected official serving in Montana, if he wins.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the endorsements:
“We have the opportunity to make history in red states across the country in 2021 – with especially groundbreaking candidates in Louisiana and Montana. Mariah Moore is an incredibly gifted leader and advocate who will shatter a lavender ceiling in New Orleans and become one of just a handful of LGBTQ people to ever win elected office in Louisiana. Chris Coburn is well-positioned to win election to the Bozeman City Commission and become the first Black out LGBTQ elected official elected to the commission. America desperately needs more diverse LGBTQ leaders in elected office who can ensure the entire LGBTQ community is considered when policy decisions are made. This latest slate of candidates represents an exciting opportunity to transform the debate and change hearts and minds in cities across the nation.”
The complete list of candidate endorsements announced today is below:
Spotlight Endorsements
Chris Coburn (he/him/his)
Bozeman City Commission – MT
General Election: 11/2/2021
Mariah Moore (she/her/hers)
New Orleans City Council, District D – LA
Primary Election: 10/9/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
General Candidate Endorsements
Nick Beaven (he/him/his)
Wyandotte City Council- MI
General Election: 5/4/2021
Justan Fields (he/him/his)
Allentown City Council, At-large – PA
Primary Election: 5/18/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Grant Fleegle (he/him/his)
New Castle City Council, At-large – PA
Primary Election: 5/18/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Reggie Harris (he/him/his)
Cincinatti City Council, At-large – OH
General Election: 11/2/2021
Bill Hedrick (he/him/his)
Municipal Court Judge, Columbus, OH
General Election: 11/2/2021
Mico Lucide (he/him/his)
Atlantic County Clerk- NJ
Primary Election: 6/8/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Dontae Payne (he/him/his)
Olympia City Council, Position 6, At-Large- WA
Primary Election: 8/3/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Alfonso Quiroz (he/him/his)
New York City Council, District 25
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
John Ronquillo (he/him/his)
Aurora City Council, At-large – CO
General Election: 11/2/2021
Victor Sanchez (he/him/his)
Rochester City Council, At-large – NY
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Kim Smith (she/her/hers)
Rochester City Council, At-large – NY
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Keanuu Smith-Brown (he/him/his)
Annapolis City Council, Ward 3 – MD
Primary Election: 9/21/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Amy Zanelli (she/her/hers)
Magisterial District Judge, District 31-01-06 – PA
Primary Election: 5/18/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Incumbent Endorsements
David Bria (he/him/his)
Yardley Borough Council, At-large – PA
Primary Election: 5/18/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Mark Sickles (he/him/his)
Virginia House of Delegates, District 43
Primary Election: 6/8/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
More information about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
