LGBTQ+ candidates win key elections across the country, from federal to local races
While the nation reckons with the results of the 2024 presidential election, there were some positive gains for the LGBTQ+ community in the Senate, Congressional, statehouse and local races. Here are a few key wins.In one of the biggest LGBTQ+ wins of the election, Sarah McBride won her race to represent Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives. McBride, who burst onto the political scene in 2016 when she was the first out transgender person to speak at the Democratic National Convention, will now be the first openly trans person to serve in the United States Congress.While not officially called, and possibly headed to recount, Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin is ahead by around 25,000 votes with 99% of precincts reporting. Baldwin, who was the first openly lesbian member of the Wisconsin Assembly, declared victory in her re-election bid.Julie Johnson makes history as the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from Texas and will represent Texass 32nd district in the U.S. House of Representatives.Fellow Texan Molly Cook won her bid for Texas State Senate , District 15 and becomes the first LGBTQ+ member of the Texas Senate.Texas House District 146 will be represented by LGBTQ+ Lauren Ashley Simmons, a community organizer and out queer woman.Keturah Herron is now the first openly genderqueer person elected to the Kentucky State Senate. Herron was elected to represent Kentuckys District 42, which includes a part of Louisville.Becca Balint, successfully held her seat representing Vermonts at-large district in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating her opponent with 62% of the vote.Sharice Davids won re-election to continue representing Kansas 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. When she first took office in 2018, Davids broke barriers as the first openly LGBTQ+ Native American in Congress, the first openly LGBTQ+ member from Kansas, and one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress.Precious Brady-Davis won her re-election for Water Reclamation District Commissioner of Illinois Cook County.Incumbent Chris Pappas won his re-election bid for U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Hampshire. Pappas was New Hampshires first openly gay member of Congress when elected in 2018.Gabby Salinas won her bid and becomes the first out LGBTQ+ woman and first Latine person elected to the Tennessee legislature.Aime Wichtendahl has made history twice: first as the first openly transgender woman elected to public office in Iowa, serving on the Hiawatha City Council, and now as the first out trans person elected to the Iowa state legislature.Keven LeBlanc won his election to become the first out gay mayor of Herndon, Virginia. LeBlanc currently serves as a member of the Herndon Town Council.Many of these candidates were endorsed and supported by LGBTQ+ political action committees (PACs) The Victory Fund and LPAC.The post LGBTQ+ candidates win key elections across the country, from federal to local races appeared first on News Is Out.