Among the storylines from the most recent endorsements:
Deep Red States See Groundbreaking, Viable LGBTQ State Legislative Candidates
An
unprecedented number of viable LGBTQ candidates are running for state
legislatures in deep red states with little LGBTQ representation,
including Alaska, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah and West Virginia.
Newly endorsed Spotlight candidate Elias Rojas would become the first openly LGBTQ state legislator in Alaska if elected. Neil Rafferty and Felicia Stewart,
both running for the Alabama House of Representatives and just upgraded
to Spotlight endorsement status, would be the only two openly LGBTQ
elected officials in the entire state if elected. Spotlight candidate Amelia Marquez,
running for the Montana House of Representatives, would be just the
second openly trans person to be elected to and serve in any state
legislature. And spotlight candidate Cody Thompson
would bring LGBTQ representation back to the West Virginia state
legislature and would be one of just two openly LGBTQ elected officials
in the state.
Previously endorsed candidates in Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas and Utah could also make history with victories in deep red states.
Statewide LGBTQ Officeholders Could Double in November
Three statewide LGBTQ candidates received Game Changer endorsements, bringing to 18 the total number currently endorsed. Kim Coco Iwamoto
would become the first openly trans person elected to a statewide
executive office if she wins her bid for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii.
Kim is the only trans person ever elected statewide in the U.S., having
previously served two terms on the Hawaii Board of Education.
Matt Pelikan, running for Minnesota Attorney General, and Josh Tenorio, running
for Lieutenant Governor of Guam, received Game Changer endorsements and
would each be the first openly LGBTQ statewide officials in their
respective state and territory. Currently just seven LGBTQ people serve
in statewide positions, including only one out governor.
LGBTQ Congressional Candidates Could Increase Representation in U.S. House
Sharice Davids and Rufus Gifford
received Game Changer endorsements in their races for U.S. Congress –
bringing to fourteen the total number of current U.S. House candidates
Victory Fund has endorsed. Davids would be the first openly LGBTQ member
of Congress to represent Kansas if elected – and one of just eight
LGBTQ elected officials in the entire state. She would also be the first
Native American Congresswoman in U.S. history. Gifford would be just
the second out member of Congress from Massachusetts.
The complete list of today’s endorsements is below.
Spotlight Candidates
Amelia Marquez, Montana House of Representatives, District 52
Cody Thompson, West Virginia House of Delegates, District 43
Elias Rojas, Alaska House of Representatives, District 20
Game Changer Candidates
Sharice Davids, U.S. House of Representatives, KS-03
Rufus Gifford, U.S. House of Representatives, MA-03
Kim Coco Iwamoto, Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
Matt Pelikan, Minnesota Attorney General
Josh Tenorio, Lieutenant Governor of Guam
Candidates Upgraded to Spotlight
Neil Rafferty, Alabama House of Representatives, District 54
Felicia Stewart, Alabama House of Representatives, District 46
Jennifer Webb, Florida House of Representatives, District 69
Ricardo White, Michigan House of Representatives, District 6
Endorsed Candidates
Raghib Allie-Brennan, Connecticut House of Representatives, District 2
Bryce Bennett, Montana State Senate, District 50
Hunter Cantrell, Minnesota House of Representatives, District 56A
Caitlin Clarkson-Pereira, Connecticut House of Representatives, District 132
Jason Cox, Harris County (TX) Probate Court, Number 3
Mason Donovan, New Hampshire State Senate, District 7
Raymond Gregory, Cathedral City (CA) Council, District 5
Jessica Gonzalez, Texas House of Representatives, District 104
Dave Hutchinson, Sheriff of Hennepin County (MN)
Sonya Jaquez Lewis, Colorado House of Representatives, District 12
Garrett Muscatel, New Hampshire House of Representatives, Grafton 12
Danielle Skidmore, Austin City Council, District 9
Endorsed Incumbent Candidates
Tim Carpenter, Wisconsin State Senate, District 3
Deborah Glick, New York State Assembly, District 66
Leslie Herod, Colorado House of Representatives, District 8
Dan Innis, New Hampshire State Senate, District 24
Celia Israel, Texas House of Representatives, District 50
Laurie Jinkins, Washington House of Representatives, District 27a
Tina Kotek, Oregon House of Representatives, District 44
Jack Patrick Lewis, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 7th Middlesex District
Marko Liias, Washington State Senate, District 21
Bill Lippert, Vermont House of Representatives, Chittendon-4-2 District
Andrew McLean, Maine House of Representatives, District 27
Matthew Moonen, Maine House of Representatives, District 38
Marcia Morey, North Carolina House of Representatives, District 30
Jason Morgan, Washtenaw County (MI) Commissioner
Andrea Olsen, Montana House of Representatives, District 100
Sarah Peake, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 4th Barnstable District
Mark Spreitzer, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 45
This
is the eighth round of endorsements by Victory Fund for the 2018
election cycle. All currently running openly LGBTQ endorsed candidates
can be seen at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.
