LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

Molly Cook Makes History in Texas – and is Back on the Ballot!

Last weekend, Spotlight candidate Molly Cook made history and won her special election! She is officially the first out LGBTQ+ member of the Texas State Senate. She now represents District 15 for the remainder of this year’s session after the seat was vacated by now-Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire. Molly will face Jarvis Johnson once more on May 28th in the runoff election, which will determine the nominee for the November election. The winner will hold the next four-year term.

Spotlight candidate Lauren Ashley Simmons will also be on the May 28th ballot. Her opponent, incumbent representative Shawn Thierry, has a history of transphobic comments. And it’s a recent history – Thierry made homophobic comments in her interview for The Houston Chronicle when seeking endorsement.

Lauren, on the other hand, successfully earned a rousing endorsement!

LGBTQ+ Candidates in Maryland and West Virginia Prepare for Election Day

The Maryland Primary is fast approaching, and we have some excellent candidates, Joe Vogel and Dana Schallheim, who could use your help! Learn more about opportunities for GOTV this weekend here!

When he wins his May 14th primary, Joe will be one step closer to being Maryland's first out LGBTQ+ member of Congress! But he's facing a very crowded field first.

Meanwhile, Dana's working to beat two opponents, one of whom is a Moms for Liberty member. and will be the first out LGBTQ+ person and the first Jewish person to serve on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education!

In West Virginia, anti-trans attacks have taken over a certain political party’s primary election. And with anti-trans hate at the top of the ticket, it’s even more important that we elect Rosemary Ketchum as the next mayor of Wheeling, West Virginia! Rosemary is also facing illegal attack ads – someone is sending mailers with no paid for by disclaimers.

QUICK HITS: The News in a Moment

Pro-equality elected officials in Arizona have successfully repealed the state’s archaic, Civil War abortion ban! LGBTQ+ representatives Lorena Austin, Oscar De Los Santos and Analise Ortiz all celebrated the repeal of the ban. Meet all our endorsed candidates running in Arizona here!

Dave Upthegrove, running for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands, officially filed the paperwork needed to appear on the ballot! Watch his celebration video here.

Eddy Morales, our candidate for U.S. House district OR-3, launched his first campaign ad of the cycle! Primary week is coming soon – May 21st! – so Eddy is also hard at work on the campaign trail.

Our candidate for the Reno City Council, Devon Reese is also facing down homophobic mailers. As if being called a drag queen could ever be an insult!

Incumbent candidate Deborah Ann Begay recently spoke with the Navajo Times about her reelection campaign to continue being Maricopa County’s Moon Valley Justice of the Peace and the value of representation in her courtroom. Read the full article here!