Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed Arizona state Representative Daniel Hernández for the U.S. Congressional seat in Arizona’s 2nd District. If elected in November 2022, he will become just the second Latinx out LGBTQ person to serve in the U.S. Congress, and among the youngest. Hernández would be 32 when he takes office.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, will speak with Hernández about the endorsement and his run for U.S. Congress live on Facebook at 11am PT / 2pm ET today. Watch the conversation here.
Hernández, a state legislator since 2017, is the son of an immigrant mother. He is widely credited with saving the life of then Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in 2011, when she was shot at a constituent services event.
Mayor Parker released the following statement about the endorsement:
“People of color, young people and LGBTQ people are demanding a government more representative of the people it serves – and Daniel is the best candidate to mobilize that coalition and inspire change in the U.S. Congress. He knows firsthand the immigrant experience, the devastation of gun violence and the poisonous impact of anti-LGBTQ politics. He will ensure the policies that would improve the lives of most Arizonans remain central to political discussions in Washington, much as he has in the state legislature. Arizonans need to elect the next generation of leaders who can guide America into the future – and Daniel is a person worthy of that responsibility.”
Hernández released the following statement about the endorsement:
“After years of working with LGBTQ Victory Fund to encourage members of the LGBTQ community to run for office, I’m so proud to receive their endorsement of my campaign for Congress. As a founder and former chair of the Arizona House LGBT caucus, I believe representation within our elected leaders matters. In the Arizona state House I have worked across the aisle to repeal discriminatory laws against LGBTQ Arizonans and I will work to pass protections for LGBTQ Americans in Congress.”
Congressman Ritchie Torres became the first Latinx out LGBTQ member elected to Congress when he won his race in November 2020.
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.
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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.