After a lot of waiting and a long campaign season filled with phenomenal candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden is now the presumptive Democratic nominee. Biden pledged from the debate stage that he’s ready to pick a female running mate. And we have a few women in mind – all phenomenal LGBTQ leaders – that Joe can add to his list.
Let us know who you think Joe should choose – vote for your preferred candidate below!
U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids
Congresswoman Davids flipped Kansas’s 3rd District in 2018, taking her place in history as the first openly LGBTQ Congresswoman from Kansas and one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress (a historic moment long overdue!). Sharice’s win was part of the 2018 Rainbow Wave, in which a new generation of pro-equality candidates – often women – took back control of the U.S. House. An attorney and former MMA fighter, Sharice is a born fighter for America’s families – and would bring much needed representation to the Oval Office.
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
Tammy is no stranger to breaking down LGBTQ barriers. She worked her way up the ladder of Wisconsin politics, holding positions in local government, in the U.S. Congress and finally winning her U.S. Senate seat. She’s survived volley after volley of dark money blitzes, sweeping her opponent during her reelection campaign in 2018. And she could deliver swaths of the Midwest, including taking back Wisconsin from Trump’s hands, all while maintaining her stellar progressive credentials.
U.S Senator Kyrsten Sinema
Senator Sinema earned her title as the first openly bisexual U.S. Senator after a nail-biter election in 2018. Kyrsten Sinema has a reputation of bringing all sides together to advance issues that improve the quality of life for her constituents. In 2020, Arizona is solidly in the battleground category – a recent statewide victor like Sinema on the ticket could be an asset, not just in winning the White House, but also in making sure Arizonans mobilize to vote on Election Day.
Governor Kate Brown
Not only is Oregon Governor Kate Brown the first openly LGBTQ person ever elected chief executive of any state, she also happens to be the most progressive governor in the country. Governor Brown is a passionate advocate for environmental reform, sensible governance and voting rights. No stranger to leadership, Brown led fraud and abuse crackdowns as Oregon’s Secretary of State as well as instituting new technologies for voters with disabilities. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for Brown’s impressive resume. Though from a blue state, Brown has approached Trump’s tirades and unruly state senators with the same response: by getting to work for Oregon’s people.
U.S. Congresswoman Angie Craig
Another heroine of 2018’s Rainbow Wave, Congresswoman Craig trounced sexist and homophobic conservative-radio-shock-jock-turned-Congressman Jason Lewis. Since her election as Minnesota’s first openly LGBTQ member of Congress, Craig has kept busy fighting for small businesses, preserving America’s healthcare access and battling dark money in politics. Minnesota is a true swing state – and we’re ready to place it firmly in the pro-equality column in 2020!
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot
In 2019, Chicago voters chose Lori Lightfoot with 73.7% of the vote to lead America’s third largest city as mayor – a job no openly LGBTQ person or Black woman has held before. As mayor, Lightfoot is a leader on many of the issues that are top-of-mind in this election: fighting government corruption, ending police brutality and preventing gun violence. Lori’s proven she’s a strong leader with the ability to mobilize and organize her base. And maybe a fellow Prairie state native and former POTUS would join her on the campaign trail!
