Four Stories You Should Know About

1. Chris Pappas to Face Fierce Opponents

Representative Chris Pappas’s (NH-01) reelection campaign is heating up - and he has another opponent to contend with. 

Gail Huff Brown, the wife of Scott Brown, joined the Republican primary this week. A former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and failed candidate in New Hampshire, Scott Brown made headlines just for his attempted campaigns, but for once threatening a fellow lawmaker who supported marriage equality.

Former Trump advisor Matt Mowers, who Pappas narrowly beat in 2020, announced his campaign earlier in the year. During the 2020 race, Mowers was caught using anti-LGBTQ language by hyper-fixating on Pappas’ boyfriend. Victory Fund called out this behavior last year.

Karoline Leavitt, former Trump staffer and communications staffer for anti-equality U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, also launched a run. Leavitt has recently questioned the integrity of the 2020 election, calling for audits around the country. She has also dragged Mowers for his acceptance of the 2020 presidential election results saying that Mowers has “rolled over… by refusing to stand for election integrity and support audits”.

Pappas will face a fierce challenger backed by extreme right-wing donors next year from whoever emerges victorious. We’ll continue to watch this race – and his opponents – very closely.

2. Matthew Wilson Responds to GA Governor's Claims of AIDS Vaccine

Over the past several weeks, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has claimed that vaccine mandates for COVID-19 will not work because “they did not work with the AIDS vaccine.” To most Americans with a basic understanding of public health, this comment should raise some red flags, as there is no vaccine, cure, or mandate for HIV or AIDs.

Victory Fund Game Changer candidate Matthew Wilson, who’s running for Georgia Insurance Commissioner, responded by saying:

“It’s absolutely astounding that the most basic public health facts continue to go in one of Brian Kemp’s ears and straight out the other. Georgia is the epicenter of the American AIDS epidemic, and we’ve got a governor who says he doesn’t know the difference between HIV and HPV. I’ve been fed up with Kemp for a long time—today, I’m just dumbstruck.”

3. Victory Fund Endorses 40 More LGBTQ Candidates

Yesterday, LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsed a new slate of candidates, brining our full endorsement total to 173 candidates for the 2021 cycle and 36 for the 2022 cycle. Read the full press release here.

 

4. Texas Legislature Takes Aim at Trans Youth (Again)

The Texas Legislature is pushing forward with SB-3, which bans trans students from playing sports that match their gender identity. Read more from The 19th here.

CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT

TWEET OF THE WEEK

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

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.

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!

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!

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)! 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!

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