Suggests Sen. Toni Atkins and Mayor Robert Garcia for Consideration;
Emphasizes they represent several underrepresented communities;
Says an LGBTQ appointee would be backed by LGBTQ community nationally
Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ people to public office, urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint an LGBTQ person to the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris this January. It recommended California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia be given special consideration because of their strong record of leadership and the need for diverse representation in the federal government.
Governor Newsom would make history with an LGBTQ appointment, becoming the first governor to ever appoint an out LGBTQ person to a vacant Congressional seat.
Beyond the LGBTQ community, both Sen. Atkins and Mayor Garcia would represent other communities severely underrepresented in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Atkins is the first woman and first out lesbian to lead the California state Assembly and California state Senate. Mayor Garcia is the first person of color, first immigrant and first LGBTQ person to serve as mayor of Long Beach.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about a potential LGBTQ appointment:
“Governor Newsom is one of the strongest allies we have in elected office and consistently shows courage in his efforts to advance equality, so we are hopeful he will add to his legacy with an LGBTQ appointment. Both Sen. Atkins and Mayor Garcia represent communities too often denied political power – including women, immigrants and people of color – furthering the impact their appointment would make. Not just in California but across the country, the LGBTQ community would celebrate an LGBTQ leader taking the position and we will stand by them with resources and support to ensure they succeed. We hold immense pride in the leadership of our current LGBTQ U.S. Senators and would be eager to rally behind an LGBTQ U.S. Senator from the largest state in the nation.”
U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema are the only two out LGBTQ people to ever serve in the U.S. Senate. A national network of LGBTQ donors played a significant role in electing them to the U.S. Congress – bundling millions of dollars for their campaigns. Both U.S. Senators Baldwin and Sinema won election in 2018 in states Donald Trump had won in part because of this support.
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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.
