Washington, DC — Nine openly LGBTQ candidates have won their races for the U.S. House — including all seven incumbents — ensuring a historic number of openly LGBTQ members in the U.S. House next year. Among the winners are Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres, who will become the first two openly LGBTQ Black members of Congress. It will also be the most diverse class of LGBTQ members — growing from two representatives of color to four. Including openly LGBTQ U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema — neither of which were up for election this year — the number of LGBTQ members of the U.S. Congress will increase from nine to 11 next year.
Despite the historic number of victories, two LGBTQ candidates expected to be key pickups lost their races after relentless homophobic and transphobic attacks, including millions of dollars in anti-LGBTQ attack ads by the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC). Jon Hoadley (MI-6) was targeted for months with false and homophobic tropes alluding to him as a pedophile and sexual predator in what Victory Fund called the "most homophobic campaign" in America. Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23), who was favored to win, faced millions of dollars in transphobic NRCC TV ads in the final weeks of her campaign. Earlier, the National Republican Campaign Committee had encouraged outside groups to highlight her same-sex partner and support for trans equality.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the victories:
"The next U.S. Congress will have the largest and most diverse group of LGBTQ leaders in history and with increased representation comes increased political power. These LGBTQ members of Congress will influence how their constituents and colleagues view our community and ensure issues of equality remain a priority.
"There is little doubt that millions of dollars in homophobic and transphobic attack ads in the final weeks of the campaign contributed to losses in two critical swing districts where LGBTQ candidates ran. Bigoted politicians and operatives who thrive in the politics of hate were able to peel away support from voters who don't yet know our community. The unprecedented level of anti-LGBTQ attacks on candidates at every level this cycle will be a rallying cry for Victory Fund and our entire community. We refuse to allow these tactics to become part of the political playbook for those running against LGBTQ candidates."
Below are the LGBTQ Congressional candidates who won their races. Non-incumbents are in bold.
District / Congressmember-Elect / Party / Party of Current Member
CA-41 Mark Takano Democrat Democrat
KS-3 Sharice Davids Democrat Democrat
MN-2 Angie Craig Democrat Democrat
NH-1 Chris Pappas Democrat Democrat
NY-15 Ritchie Torres Democrat Democrat
NY-17 Mondaire Jones Democrat Democrat
NY-18 Sean Patrick Maloney Democrat Democrat
RI-1 David Cicilline Democrat Democrat
WI-1 Mark Pocan Democrat Democrat
Twenty-six openly LGBTQ candidates won Democratic or Republican primaries for U.S. Senate or U.S. House this year — more than at any other time in U.S. history. Fifteen of the candidates were endorsed by Victory Fund.
For the latest results on all Victory Fund endorsed candidates, visit victoryfund.org/results2020 .
LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve.
victoryfund.org .
