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5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. Darden “Very Confident” in Final Days
Next Tuesday, voters in St. Petersburg head to the polls to decide on the next mayor of their city. Our Spotlight candidate, Darden Rice, is polling among the top three in a crowded field of eight candidates, with a runoff possible if no candidate secures 50 percent of the vote.
Darden is the top fundraiser in the field and has the largest ground game – having reached more than 100,000 voters during the campaign. These advantages will be crucial in the final days, with more than 10 percent of likely voters still undecided. "I am very confident in my positioning and momentum going into this Tuesday’s election,” Darden told Axios recently.
She is also hitting the media circuit, in an interview saying [[link removed]] she is “the candidate of real progress,” distinguishing herself from her opponents whose views have allegedly “evolved” to become more progressive.
If elected, Darden will be the first out LGBTQ mayor of St. Petersburg and one of seven out LGBTQ big city mayors in the U.S. You can read more about Darden [[link removed]] on her Victory Fund Spotlight Candidate profile.
2. How to Defeat an Insurrectionist-Supporting Congressman
Heather Mizeur’s incumbent opponent Andy Harris has held Maryland’s first congressional seat since 2011, when the district was redrawn to make it more conservative than the region overall. Yet Heather sees a clear path to victory, noting voters are “hungry” to defeat Harris, who defended January 6th insurrectionists on the House floor and was an early vaccine skeptic. It was Harris' vocal support for the insurrectionists that pushed Heather to jump into the race.
Heather has raised over $750,000 during the campaign – outpacing Harris in fundraising by two-to-one. Former Harris donors and voters are now supporting her campaign because his ultra-right politics are so out-of-touch with the people of the district. And Heather has launched a comprehensive effort to reach business owners, moderates and even Republicans to discuss ways the U.S. Congress can help them recover from the pandemic.
She spoke with Baltimore Positive [[link removed]] in detail about her path to victory (and if you are a redistricting nerd, you definitely need to give it a listen).
3. Historic Opportunity in Louisiana
The New Orleans City Council race is about to kick into high gear as the October 9 primary approaches, and our Spotlight candidate Mariah Moore is receiving national attention for her historic race and work on behalf of the New Orleans LGBTQ community. She recently spoke with Melissa Harris-Perry [[link removed]] about leading the House of Tulip, which supports trans people who are homeless, and to LGBTQ Nation [[link removed]] about her race for council seat District D.
Mariah – a former Victory Institute Empowerment Fellow – would be the first out trans person elected in Louisiana and one of just three out LGBTQ elected officials in the entire state.
See how DC compares to other states in the number of out LGBTQ elected officials.
4. Neck-and-Neck in Pennsylvania
A new poll shows our Spotlight candidate Tyler Titus with a three-point lead over their Republican opponent Brenton Davis in the race for Erie County Executive in Pennsylvania. The poll also found 58 percent of voters can identify Tyler compared to 44 percent for Davis, and that Tyler has a +19 favorability rating compared to Davis’ +5.
While most voters remain focused on local issues, the race has national importance because of Davis’ history of anti-trans comments, including support for a ban on trans military members. Tyler would be the first out trans county executive in U.S. history if they defeat Davis in November.
Dig into the full polling memo here [[link removed]] .
5. Pete & Chasten’s Big News
Earlier this week, Pete and Chasten Buttigieg announced they are adopting a child and will soon be parents. Pete wrote on Twitter: “The process isn’t done yet and we’re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can’t wait to share more soon.”
Our President & CEO, Mayor Annise Parker, congratulated Pete and Chasten, and told The New York Times [[link removed]] : “As parents, they will now shine a national spotlight on LGBTQ families, who often face daunting challenges because of outdated policies that narrowly define what families are.”
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Ptown Pre-Tea Toast
Headed to the Cape on Labor Day weekend? Start the holiday off right at Ptown Pre-Tea Toast on Friday, September 3, 2021 from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ET! Spill the tea with friends and connect with LGBTQ leaders from Massachusetts and beyond while raising a glass to LGBTQ history. Register today! [[link removed]]
Nashville Reception Toast
Nashville, we’re back on the road and ready to celebrate LGBTQ political power in Music City! Join us to honor the historic advances made in 2020, Nashville’s first LGBTQ Caucus on the Davidson County Metropolitan Council and give a toast to ensuring more out leaders are elected in 2021 and beyond! Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 7, 2021, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm CT and register here. [[link removed]]
San Diego Brunch
We've missed the San Diego sunshine, and the even-sunnier disposition of California's proud LGBTQ community. Join Victory Fund on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 11:00 am PT to celebrate San Diego's many historic firsts and lasting legacy of LGBTQ political power. Register here [[link removed]] !
30th Anniversary Gala
For the last 30 years, Victory Fund has powered rainbow wave after rainbow wave, electing LGBTQ candidates up and down the ballot who have gone on to make huge changes in their community. Come celebrate LGBTQ political power and raise a glass to progress at Victory Fund’s 30th Anniversary Gala, Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET [[link removed]] !
Paid for by LGBTQ Victory Fund. Your contribution may be used in connection with federal, state and local elections and be subject to federal, state and local laws. Contributions to LGBTQ Victory Fund are not tax deductible. Victory Fund members do not have governance participation rights.
LGBTQ Victory Fund is the political arm of the LGBTQ community. Since our founding in 1991, we’ve supported and elected LGBTQ candidates like U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, Governors Jared Polis and Kate Brown and all nine LGBTQ members of U.S. Congress. We've boosted out candidates running for state and local government, including California Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Florida Senator Shevrin Jones, Virginia Delegate Danica Roem, Colorado state Representative Leslie Herod, Pennsylvania state Representative Brian Sims, Hawaii state Representative Adrian Tam, Oklahoma Representative Mauree Turner, and so many more ( meet all of our current candidates here [[link removed]] )! We’ve shattered rainbow ceilings in all 50 states and broken election year records. You can power our work and the next Rainbow Wave with a donation today [[link removed]] !
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