Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed 36 more candidates for elected positions across the nation. Victory Fund has now endorsed 218 LGBTQ candidates this cycle — more than at any time in its 27-year history.
Among the endorsees is Brandon Woodard, who received a Spotlight endorsement in his race for the Kansas House of Representatives. With a victory in November, Brandon will become the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Kansas state legislature. He is facing Wendy Bingesser, who touts the endorsement of the anti-LGBTQ organization Family Policy Alliance of Kansas and supports allowing taxpayer-funded adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex parents. Brandon is one of dozens of LGBTQ candidates facing anti-LGBTQ opponents in the general election.
"A rainbow wave is coming in November — with more LGBTQ candidates positioned to win historic races and high-level offices than at any other time in American history," said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. "Importantly, voters are choosing LGBTQ candidates in red states and blue states not because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but because they are authentic candidates with positive and inclusive agendas. A surge in LGBTQ political power come November is critical not just because the LGBTQ community needs us, but because America needs us."
Spotlight Candidate
Brandon Woodard, Kansas House of Representatives, District 30
Endorsed Candidates
James Aguilar, San Leandro ( CA ) Unified School District Governing Board, Area 6
Jason Andrean, DC State Board of Education, Ward 1
Jordan Brandman, Anaheim ( CA ) City Council, District 2
Lisa Bunker, New Hampshire House of Representatives, Rockingham 18
Marisabel Cabrera, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 9
Carlos Cardona, New Hampshire House of Representatives, Belknap 3
Jake Cunningham, Oakland County ( MI ) Circuit Court, District 6
Betsy Driver, Mayor of Flemington ( NJ )
Bonnie Dumanis, San Diego ( CA ) Board of Supervisors, District 4
Laurie Farrow, Carroll County ( AR ) Justice of the Peace, District 3
Rochelle Galindo, Colorado House of Representatives, District 50
Brian Garcia, Tempe Union High School District Governing Board #213, At-Large
Sunday Gover, California State Assembly, District 77
Kathleen James, Vermont House of Representatives, District 4
Ben Ku, Gwinnett County ( GA ) Commissioner, District 2
Shawn Kumagai, Dublin ( CA ) City Council, At-Large
Bobby Levinski, Austin City Council, District 8
Richard Perque, Civil District Court Judge, Orleans Parish ( LA ), Division E
Lis Regula, Portage County ( OH ) Auditor
Rob Reneau, Peoria County ( IL ) Board Member, District 10
Katie Scott, Washtenaw County Commissioner ( MI ), District 9
Adam Spickler, Cabrillo ( CA ) College Trustee
Rachelanne Vander Werf, American River Flood Control District Trustee ( CA )
Daniel Ward, Barnegat Township ( NJ ) Committee
Mitch Weber, Missouri House of Representatives, District 13
Tyller Williamson, Monterey ( CA ) City Council, At-Large
Endorsed Incumbent Candidates
Becca Balint, Vermont State Senate, Windham District
Harry Bronson, New York State Assembly, District 138
James Chang, Berkeley ( CA ) Rent Stabilization Board
John Gomez, Cartwright School District Governing Board ( AZ )
Debbie Ingram, Vermont State Senate, Chittenden District
Miles Prince, San Gabriel Valley ( CA ) Municipal Water District, Division 4
Gabriel Quinto, El Cerrito City Council ( CA )
Leonard Resto, Chatham Borough ( NJ ) Council
Marque Snow, Omaha ( NE ) Public School Board of Education, Subdistrict 2
This is the tenth 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 .
Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.
From a news release
