LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

VICTORY: LGBTQ+ candidates advance in Michigan, Kansas, Missouri and Washington!

In Michigan, Kyle Wright, Laurie Pohutsky, and Jason Morgan were unopposed in their primaries for the Michigan House of Representatives, while Dave Coulter is unopposed in his primary for Oakland County Executive, Leslie Blackburn was unopposed in their primary for Lodi Township Board of Trustees, Brendan Johnson was unopposed in his primary for Oakland County Commission, Katie Scott was unopposed in her primary for Washtenaw County Commission, and Kerene Moore was unopposed in her primary for 15th District Court. Travis Radina and Jonathan Mallek were also unopposed in their primaries for Ann Arbor City Council!

Mike McFall, who faced a primary challenger, pulled off a resounding win! Domonique Clemmons also advanced in his race for the Genesee County Clerk and Register of Deeds.

In Missouri, Jeremy Dean and Spotlight Candidate Colin Lovett were unopposed in their Democratic primaries for Missouri State House.

In Washington, Rep. Nicole Macri, Commissioner Kyle Curtis, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, Rep. Beth Doglio, Commissioner Ryan Mello, Maria Beltran, John Cummings, Elizabeth Berns, Doris Walkins, and Camille Schaefer automatically advanced to the general election in November!

Two races in Washington have not yet been called! Dave Upthegrove, running for Washington State Commissioner of Public lands, is neck and neck to take second place. In the state legislature, Chelsea Dimas is the currently top vote getter, though results are not yet official.

Excitingly, Spotlight candidate Emily Randall pulled off a huge win in Congressional District 06. Emily is on track to be the first out LGBTQ+ Latina ever elected to the U.S. Congress!

LGBTQ+ For Harris

In a letter of LGBTQ+ leaders supporting the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris for President, half or more of the signers are current or former LGBTQ+ candidates, elected officials, or LGBTQ Delegates to the 2024 DNC Convention. That number continues to grow!

Those calls profiled LGBTQ+ Victory Fund's LGBTQ+ champions and endorsed candidates like Congresswomen Becca Balint and Angie Craig, FL State Senator Shevrin Jones and Representative Michele Rayner, PA State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, AZ State Representative Lorena Austin, DE State Senator Sarah McBride, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has 93 currently endorsed candidates running in the Battleground states who will impact the makeup of their school boards, councils, and state legislatures and influence the votes that come out to save the future of our democracy.

Harris garnered further support when she announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her Vice President. Walz is a notable champion of LGBTQ+ rights: together with LGBTQ+ state legislators, the state has passed numerous pro-LGBTQ+ and pro-choice bills, ensuring the state is a haven for trans lives.

Read how LGBTQ+ elected officials and leaders in Minnesota responded to the nomination here!

Speaking of Minnesota…

LGBTQ+ candidates are on the ballot in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Vermont next Tuesday!

The U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin is roughly determined candidate-wise – but Tammy Baldwin is still running hard. And it shows: she’s outraised her opponent once again!

In Wisconsin, Spotlight candidate Kristin Alfheim is dealing with a bigoted opponent in her historic race for the state legislature. In light of some recent anti-LGBTQ comments made during a debate, Alfheim responded, saying “There’s a reason these hateful comments were expressed in a forum with limited public viewing. He knows they are wrong and are not shared by the majority of Fox Valley.”

Watch Isabel Rolfes’ first campaign ad here! She’s ensuring voters knows where she stands in her race for the Minnesota state house.

Incumbent Minnesota State Representative Brion Curran spoke with LGBTQ+ Nation about their reelection campaign – and their success in the legislature. Read the full piece here!

QUICK HITS: The News in a Moment

In Georgia, State Senator Kim Jackson was the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to the body. Now, she reflects on her time in the Senate – and the toll of battling anti-LGBTQ bills alone.

Spotlight candidate Ysabel Jurado continues to gain momentum in her Los Angeles City Council District 14 race with growing endorsements, including the recent support from the National Union of Healthcare Workers!