LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

444 LGBTQ+ Candidates on the Ballot!

In one of our final endorsement announcements of the 2024 election cycle, we’re standing with 104 more pro-choice LGBTQ+ candidates! With the new endorsements, we’ve endorsed 483 candidates for the 2024 cycle and an additional 52 LGBTQ+ candidates were designated as “qualified” or “approved.”  And even better? 444 LGBTQ+ Victory Fund candidates (endorsed, approved and qualified) will appear on the November ballot this year!

2 Races for the U.S. House Heat Up

Bad news for Mondaire Jone’s opponent: new photos revealed that Congressman Mike Lawler wore blackface as part of a past Halloween costume. As Mondaire noted, “he knew it was wrong.” Undeterred,  Mondaire announced he raised almost $2.9 million in the third and final quarter before Election Day.

And he’ll need it: Elon Musk’s PAC is spending in key Congressional Districts, including Mondaire’s and Will Rollin’s. Musk, who is supporting their opponents, is no stranger to anti-trans rhetoric and stereotyping.

Meanwhile in California, Will Rollins is also posting outstanding fundraising numbers. Will has also hit the airwaves with a series of ads, detailing his plans to fight wildfires, slamming his opponent Ken Calvert on his corruption habit, and pledging to increase job opportunities and apprenticeships!

Wisconsin Under Siege from Anti-Trans Ads

News broke earlier this week that Tammy Baldwin’s race for the U.S. Senate has officially flipped to a toss-up. Tammy’s hard at work ensuring all Wisconsinites have a voice in the Senate, but her opponent Eric Hovde is trying to win a culture war. Hovde is not only attacking Tammy for her pro-LGBTQ+ record, but peddling false myths about trans kids as they face heart-breakingly high suicide rates.

Hovde is just following Trump’s lead, however. Trump has launched a barrage of anti-trans ads in attempt to win over suburban voters, targeting Kamala Harris on the airwaves in key swing states. But, as journalist Erin Reed points out, anti-trans ads have not provided the campaign boost bigots have aimed for in the past, and new polling shows voters in swing states believe society should accept, not criminalize, trans lives.

The ads look even more desperate when you consider the state of the Wisconsin legislature: voters could elect the largest ever block of LGBTQ+ lawmakers, including Spotlight candidate Kristin Alfheim in the state senate.

QUICK HITS: the News in a Second

LGBTQ+ women are ready to make history in the U.S House! Victory Fund candidates Sarah McBride, Julie Johnson and Emily Randall spoke with Punchbowl News about their historic campaigns and plans for Congress.

In California, Spotlight candidate Lisa Middleton is ready to make history – but that’s not why she stepped up to run. She’s aiming to improve roads, emergency response systems and more. Read her full interview with Politico here!

Spotlight candidate Ysabel Jurado dropped her latest campaign ad – and participated in her first debate! Read up on her opponent’s dismal record here.

Chelsea Dimas, running for the Washington House of Representatives, launched her Let’s Talk About series where she covers pressing issues for her community!

In Lexington, Kentucky, Emma Curtis is hard at work on the campaign trail with fellow Victory Institute alum Joeigh Perella!