LGBTQ candidates were big winners Tuesday in Utah, with lesbian candidate Jackie Biskupski the top vote-getter in the Salt Lake City mayoral primary. Biskupski (pictured), a former state legislator, took 46% of the vote, while incumbent Mayor Ralph Becker only managed to win 31% in the crowded contest. Biskupski and Becker will face each other again in the general election in November. “I’m excited for sure,” Biskupski told the Salt Lake Tribune. “All that hard work paid off.”
The Salt Lake City Council could gain an openly gay member after Derek Kitchen easily advanced to the general election in the District 4 primary. Kitchen gained notoriety when he won the case that legalized marriage for same-sex couples in Utah.
Sophie Hawes-Tingey, said to be Utah’s first openly transgender candidate, also advanced in her primary election for a seat on the Midvale City Council. She faces Paul Glover in November.
“We’re excited about these results,” said Aisha Moodie-Mills, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “Electing LGBTQ candidates is so important to changing politics and giving hope to folks in places like Utah, where it’s still hard to be out and honest about who you love or how you identify. That’s why over the next 83 days we’re going to work hard to make sure these candidates have the support they need to win.”
