Washington, DC — 238 out LGBTQ+ candidates have won elections in 2023, as of 3 p.m. ET, surpassing the record 185 who won in 2021 — the last odd-year election. LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is awaiting final results in six races, four LGBTQ+ candidates have advanced to runoff elections and five LGBTQ+ candidate will appear on the general election ballot in Utah Tuesday, November 21. Americans must elect over 36,000 more out officials in order to achieve equitable representation, according to LGBTQ+ Victory Institute [ victoryinstitute.org/out-for-america-2023/ ] .
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, issued the following statement:
"What we witnessed at the ballot box Tuesday was a Rainbow Wave. More LGBTQ+ candidates won their elections than in any previous odd-year election, a resounding rebuke to the politicians who tried to make our community a wedge issue. Voters want a government that's focused on improving their lives, not one that promotes harassment and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. When LGBTQ+ candidates run, we win. LGBTQ+ Americans everywhere can be proud of what our community accomplished in this year's elections."
2023 trends:
68 percent of LGBTQ+ school board candidates won their races (34 out of 50);
The number of LGBTQ+ legislators in the four states holding elections increased from 7 to 12;
Of the 148 LGBTQ+ women who ran for office, 83 won their elections — a rate of 56 percent;
Of the 239 out men who ran for office, 121 won their elections — a rate of 51 percent;
Of the 468 out LGBTQ+ candidates who ran in 2023, 238 have won their elections, a success rate of 50.85 percent;
The success rate for LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorsed candidates was 71 percent, compared to 29.5 percent for non-endorsed LGBTQ+ candidates.
Among the historic milestones achieved by LGBTQ+ Victory Fund candidates:
Fabian Nelson won [ victoryfund.org/news/fabian-nelson-wins-election-will-be-mississippis-first-out-lgbtq-lawmaker/ ] his election to represent Mississippi State House District 66, becoming the state's first out LGBTQ+ legislator;
Rue Landau will be Philadelphia's first out LGBTQ+ City Council member [ victoryfund.org/news/rue-laundau-wins-election-will-be-first-out-lgbtq-philadelphia-councilmember/ ] ;
All nine LGBTQ+ Victory Fund candidates for the Virginia General Assembly won their races [ victoryfund.org/news/all-nine-lgbtq-victory-fund-candidates-win-state-legislative-seats-in-virginia-including-first-transgender-senator/ ] , including in competitive races that determined partisan control in both chambers. Danica Roem will become the first out transgender state senator anywhere in the South.
More out LGBTQ+ candidates [ victoryfund.org/out-on-the-trail-2023/ ] have run for office in 2023 than ever before in an odd election year. See the full results for all LGBTQ+ Victory Fund candidates on the November ballot at victoryfund.org/about/past-elections/election-results-2023/ .
About LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of out LGBTQ+ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of LGBTQ+ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
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