LGBTQ+ Victory Fund proudly presents you with our 5th annual Out on the Trail report, the second release during a presidential election year. 2024 is a pivotal year for our democracy, and we’ve already seen the power of hateful vitriol, misinformation and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric infecting the electoral process. Our work is the antidote, and we are proud to see so many LGBTQ+ candidates running to serve nearly everywhere in our nation – including nearly 400 candidates for state legislatures. We know what’s at stake – our rights, freedoms and democracy itself. Out LGBTQ+ candidates for office bring critical values and perspectives to their work in leadership. These candidates represent our nation’s future, reflect our nation’s diversity and show that LGBTQ+ people are vital, instrumental voices in our halls of power.
–Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
October 2024
For media inquiries, contact press@victoryfund.org.
2024 Overview & Key Findings
At least 1,017 LGBTQ+ candidates ran for elected offices nationwide, with at least one LGBTQ+ person who ran in nearly every state as well as Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. This is a slight increase (1.1%) over the previous presidential election year, 2020, with at least 1,006 counted, and a 4.8% decrease compared to 2022, a midterm year with 1,066. The number of candidates running is affected by the number of available offices, which shifts from year to year.
Of those candidates, at least 668 will appear on the ballot, with 444 candidates on the ballot endorsed by LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
Around 15% of candidates in 2024 are gender diverse, including transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, Two-spirit, almost double from 7.9% of candidates in 2020.
Among LGBTQ+ candidates, lesbians have seen the sharpest drop in proportional representation of any sexual orientation, dropping from 26.7% of the total candidate count in 2020, to 16.1% of the candidate count in 2024. For the first time, candidates who are gay make up fewer than 50% of total candidates who ran in 2024.
Bisexual, pansexual, queer and asexual candidates increased in number and proportion between 2020 and 2024.
LGBTQ+ candidates are overwhelmingly Democrats with just over 9 out of 10 reporting as Democrats (830, 90.6%) Republicans represent 2.2% of LGBTQ+ candidates overall, and independents 3.6%.
or more LGBTQ+ people ran for office in 2024
increase in LGBTQ+ candidates compared to 2020
or more LGBTQ+ candidates will be on the ballot in November 2024
Race & Ethnicity of LGBTQ+ Candidates in 2024
LGBTQ+ candidates are more racially diverse overall in 2024 than in 2020 based on collected data, with 37.6% of LGBTQ+ candidates comprised of non-white racial and ethnic groups in 2024, nearly seven percentage points higher than 2020 (30.9%). However, this continues to lag behind in representation as people of color make up 42.6% of the population.
LGBTQ+ Hispanic/Latine candidates represent the highest non-white group, followed by LGBTQ+ Black/African American candidates and LGBTQ+ multiracial candidates. When compared to 2020, LGBTQ+ Middle Eastern/Arab candidates grew at the highest rate, 700%, from 1 in 2020 to 7 in 2024. LGBTQ+ multiracial candidates increased 42% comparing 2020 and 2024, from 30 to 52, followed by Asian American & Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ candidates at 32% growth between 2020 and 2024, from 23 in 2020 to 34 in 2024.
However, all racial groups saw a slight decline from 2022 midterm election numbers, as the total candidates in 2022 were slightly higher than in 2024.
of LGBTQ+ candidates were people of color
of LGBTQ+ candidates were Black
of LGBTQ+ candidates were Latinx/e
of LGBTQ+ candidates were AAPI
*not all candidates’ racial/ethnic backgrounds were able to be identified for this report. 919/1017 candidates in 2024 had racial/ethnic information reported, compared to 780/1006 in 2020. This data is inclusive of known racial and ethnic identity at the time of this report.
Sexual Orientation of LGBTQ+ Candidates in 2024
For the first time, gay candidates made up less than 50% of total LGBTQ+ candidates, at 49.2%. Lesbian and bisexual candidates both comprised 16.1% of candidates in 2024. The number of queer candidates nearly doubled between 2020 and 2024, growing from 52 in 2020 to 119 in 2024, representing 6.8% of all LGBTQ+ candidates in 2020 and 13.1% of candidates in 2024.
The proportion of lesbian candidates running dropped 10 percentage points between 2020 and 2024, with 2020 data showing 26.7% (204) of candidates were lesbians, compared to just 16.1% (146) this year. Asexual and pansexual representation also increased between 2020 and 2024 according to collected data.
candidates are bisexual
candidates are lesbian
candidates are gay
candidates are pansexual
*Sexual orientation information was reported or identified for 89.1% of total candidates (906/1017). The data reflects candidates where sexual orientation was known.
Sex and Gender of LGBTQ+ Candidates in 2024
Cisgender men still make up the majority of LGBTQ+ candidates running for office, and cisgender men and women represent nearly around 85% of all LGBTQ+ candidates. However, transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary candidates have increased by more than six percentage points between 2020 and 2024. Nearly 7% of all candidates this cycle are transgender or Two-spirit.
of LGBTQ+ candidates were not cisgender
candidates are transgender women
candidates are transgender men
candidates are cisgender women
*Gender identity information was reported or identified for 89.3% of total candidates (909/1017). The data reflects candidates where the candidate’s sex or gender was known.
LGBTQ+ Candidates by State & Position in 2024
LGBTQ+ candidates ran in elections this year across 49 of 50 states as well as Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. California had the most LGBTQ+ candidates running,198. Nebraska had 0 known out LGBTQ+ candidates running in 2024. Alabama, Mississippi and Wyoming tied for the second lowest number of candidates running, with just one in each state.
At least 392 candidates ran for state legislature, representing more than one-third of all candidates. Roughly one out of every five LGBTQ+ candidates who ran in 2024 is ran for local office.
LGBTQ+ Candidates by Party in 2024
Consistent with previous years, LGBTQ+ candidates counted are overwhelmingly Democrats – 9 out of 10 in this cycle. 2.2% of LGBTQ+ candidates are Republican and 3.6% are independent.
of LGBTQ+ candidates are Democrats
of LGBTQ+ candidates are Republicans
LGBTQ+ candidates are Independents
LGBTQ+ candidates are non-partisan
2024 Victory Fund Endorsed Candidates
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorses viable, out LGBTQ+ candidates who are pro-equality and pro-choice.
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorsed 483 total candidates and granted qualified or approved status to 52 candidates. Qualified candidates are those who meet endorsement criteria but are running in races with more than one LGBTQ+ candidate.
134 LGBTQ+ candidates are located in battleground states.
There are at least 668 LGBTQ+ candidates who will appear on the November ballot in elections nationwide, including 444 Victory Fund candidates.
Previous Out on the Trail Reports
Support 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.