Today LGBTQ Victory Fund – the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office – endorsed 22 LGBTQ candidates, including New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson in his race for New York City Comptroller. Victory Fund has endorsed 75 LGBTQ candidates for the 2021 cycle.
Johnson received a Spotlight candidate endorsement, as did Liliana Bakhtiari in her race for Atlanta City Council, Crystal Hudson in her race for New York City Council, and Tyler Titus in their race for Erie County Executive in Pennsylvania. Bakhtiari would be one of just a few out LGBTQ Muslim elected officials in the U.S., Hudson the first out LGBTQ Black woman on the council and Titus the highest-ranking non-binary elected official in the U.S.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the endorsements:
“There are history-making candidates running throughout the country in 2021 – from New York City to Atlanta to the pivotal swing county of Erie, Pennsylvania. The LGBTQ candidates running in these state and local elections can have an enormous impact on the everyday lives of residents and become inspirational leaders that encourage more LGBTQ people to run. In 2021, we can increase and diversify the number of LGBTQ elected officials and set the stage for another historic year in 2022.”
Mayor Parker also released the following statement about the endorsement of Johnson:
“Corey is a transformational leader who bucks the status quo by governing with his lived experience as a guide. Ever since he courageously and publicly came out as the co-captain of his high school football team in 1999, he has been a tireless fighter for the LGBTQ community and the rights of all New Yorkers. Few elected officials are so open about their lives, and that authenticity makes him a stronger leader who always keeps the interests of New Yorkers top of mind. While LGBTQ candidates and candidates living with HIV too often face hateful attacks, even in liberal cities like New York, we are confident Corey will make history as the first out gay and out HIV+ person elected citywide in New York City.”
The complete list of candidate endorsements announced today is below:
Spotlight Endorsements
Liliana Bakhtiari
Atlanta City Council, District 5- GA
General Election: 11/2/2021
Corey Johnson
New York City Comptroller
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Tyler Titus
Erie County Executive- PA
Primary Election: 5/18/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Previously Endorsed Candidate Upgraded to Spotlight Endorsement
Crystal Hudson
New York City Council, District 35
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
General Candidate Endorsements
Kristin Andrzejewski
Syracuse, NY City Council
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Amit Bagga
New York City Council, District 26
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Kristal Larson
Avon Township Clerk- IL
General Election: 4/6/2021
James Lewis
Alexandria, VA City Council
Primary Election: 6/8/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Jeffrey Omura
New York City Council, District 6
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Jeremy Raines
Tarrant Regional Water Board of Directors- TX
General Election: 5/1/2021
Kristin Richardson Jordan
New York City Council, District 9
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Jennifer Sciortino
Bordentown City Commissioner- NJ
General Election: 5/11/2021
LaWana Slack-Mayfield
Charlotte, NC City Council, At-Large
Primary Election: 9/14/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Vincent Solomeno
New Jersey State Senate, District 13
Primary Election: 6/8/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Heather Waters
Onondaga County Legislator, District 10- NY
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Incumbent Candidate Endorsements
Michael Campbell
Fox River Grove Memorial Library Board Trustee- IL
General Election: 4/6/2021
Dana Hilliard
Somersworth, NH Mayor
General Election: 11/2/2021
Nathan Jeffries
Spokane County Water District- WA
Primary Election: 8/3/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Signe Lindell
Santa Fe, NM City Council
General Election: 11/2/2021
Luke Londo
Hazel Park, MI City Council
General Election: 11/2/2021
Krystal Marx
Burien, WA City Council
Primary Election: 8/3/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Sarah Salem
Poughkeepsie, NY City Council
Primary Election: 6/22/2021
General Election: 11/2/2021
Chad West
Dallas, TX City Council
General Election: 5/1/2021
More information about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
