Washington, DC – Two years after West Virginia lost all LGBTQ representation in its state legislature, voters elected openly LGBTQ candidate Cody Thompson to represent them in Charleston. Thompson will become the sole LGBTQ voice in the state legislature and doubles LGBTQ representation in the state. Currently West Virginia has just one openly LGBTQ elected official serving anywhere in the state. Victory Fund made Thompson a “Spotlight” candidate and worked closely with his campaign.
“Tonight West Virginia voters restored much needed LGBTQ representation to the state legislature, electing an openly LGBTQ candidate who will ensure our voices are heard in Charleston,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “LGBTQ people are severely underrepresented in West Virginia politics with just one openly LGBTQ elected official in the entire state, so a victory for Cody is a significant step forward. This past year, LGBTQ West Virginians have been targeted with hateful legislation pushed forward by extremist lawmakers in the state capitol, with no out LGBTQ legislators there to fight back. That changes after tonight.”
Live Election Night Results: Victory Fund is live-tracking the election results for 225 of its openly LGBTQ endorsed candidates. The latest updates can be found at victoryfund.org/results2018.
Rainbow Wave by the Numbers: LGBTQ Victory Fund released several reports on the unprecedented Rainbow Wave of openly LGBTQ candidates who ran for office during the 2018 election cycle, including one reporting on the total number of candidates who ran, another looking at the total number of candidates by state, and one analyzing Congressional and gubernatorial nominees.
