Today LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsed Maryland state Senator Mary Washington in her race for mayor of Baltimore. If elected, Washington would become the first openly LGBTQ mayor of Baltimore and one of just two openly LGBTQ Black women serving as mayor of top 100 cities. Washington first made history in 2010 when she became the first Black openly LGBTQ state legislator in Maryland and the second such state legislator in the nation, and then again in 2018 when she became the state’s first openly LGBTQ state senator of color.
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Washington faces five primary opponents and the primary winner will likely be the next mayor. A victory for Washington would add to the unprecedented number of lesbian big city mayors elected in the past year.
“Senator Washington is a trailblazer who barrels through long-held political barriers to break new ground for our community – and she will do so again in her race for mayor of Baltimore,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “While she is running to improve the lives of all the city’s residents, the historic nature of her candidacy provides Baltimoreans with an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to city hall. Lesbians are winning major city mayoral races in unprecedented numbers because of their authenticity and ability to connect with voters – and Senator Washington is on-track to do the same.”
In 2019, three big city lesbian mayors were elected in the United States: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Madison (WI) Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. If Washington is elected, her and Lightfoot will be the only two openly LGBTQ Black women mayors of top 100 cities.
Victory Fund has endorsed 76 openly LGBTQ candidates for 2020 races so far. More information about the candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
