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Victory Fund endorses 48 more LGBTQ candidates in last round of 2019 candidate endorsements

As of September 24, LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, has endorsed 48 new openly LGBTQ candidates in its last round of endorsements for the 2019 election cycle. The organization has endorsed 172 candidates for 2019 — the most candidates ever in an odd-numbered election year — and six candidates for 2020.

Since 1991, the Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections. This is Victory Fund’s tenth round of endorsements for the 2019 and 2020 election cycles.

Eliz Markowitz is among the endorsees in her race for an open seat in the Texas state House. The race is receiving outsized attention because it is held by a retiring Republican and is key to Democratic efforts to take back the state House in 2020. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz won the district by just three points in 2018. Victory Fund also endorsed Shawn Terry in his 2020 race for the Texas state House, also considered critical to securing a Democratic majority. He is off to a strong start — raising more in contributions than any other 2020 Texas state legislative candidate in a red-leaning district that is shifting rapidly toward Democrats in recent elections.

While Victory Fund is non-partisan, the Republican-led Texas state legislature has introduced dozens of anti-LGBTQ bills in the past several years. A Democratic majority in the state House would almost certainly kill any anti-LGBTQ legislative efforts.

“The surge in qualified, viable LGBTQ candidates running for office is staggering, with more people running in 2019 than ever before in an odd-numbered election year,†said former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, now president and chief executive officer of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “The floodgates were opened by the Rainbow Wave of 2018 and other historic victories over the last few years. Now, we know we can run and win anywhere, and more LGBTQ people are deciding elected office is the best vehicle to bring positive change for their communities.â€

“The political winds are changing in Texas — and openly LGBTQ state legislative candidates will play a significant role in determining whether Democrats take back the (Texas) state House in 2020,†Mayor Parker continued. “After years of relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community by this state legislature, we are on the verge of electing a historic number of LGBTQ leaders who will fight on behalf of Texans, not against them.â€

More information about the candidates is available at VictoryFund.org/OurCandidates.

Victory Fund candidate endorsements

(* indicates Texas candidates)
* Eliz Markowitz, Texas House of Repres­­­­­entatives, District 28
* Nelvin Adriatico, Houston City Council, District J 
N.J. Akbar, Akron (OH) Public Schools Board of Education, At-Large 
N.J. Akbar, Akron (OH) Public Schools Board of Education, At-Large 
Chauntyll Allen, St. Paul (MN) Board of Education (ISD 624), At-Large 
Sheena Barnes, Toledo (OH) Public Schools Board of Education, At-Large 
Karen Bolton, Bremerton (WA) School District No. 100-C
Merisa Bowers, Gahanna City (OH) Council, At-Large 
Robert Case, Framingham City (MI) Council District 5 ­­
Alison Coombs, Aurora City (CO) Council, Ward V 
Benjamin Dickens, Roeland Park (KS) City Council, Ward 2 
Philip Du, Dutchess County (NY) Legislature, District 15
Andrew Gilchrist, Perinton Town (NY) Supervisor
Joseph Geierman, Mayor of Doraville (GA)
Sophia Hawes-Tingey, Midvale City (UT) Council, District 2
Justin Gould, University Heights (OH) City Council, At-Large 
Meredith Hegg, Upper Darby (PA) School Director, At-Large
* Nick Hellyar, Houston City Council, At-Large 4
Jason Hoskins, Southfield City (MI) Council, At-Large 
Meghan Huryk, Neptune City (NJ) Borough Council 
Amani Johnson, Southfield City (MI) Council, At-Large 
* Shelley Kennedy, Houston City Council, District C 
* Isabel Longoria, Houston City Council, District H 
Mike McFall, Hazel Park City (MI) Council, At-Large 
David Neill, Upper Darby (PA) School Director, At-Large
Zachary Niemiec, North Tonawanda (NY) Common Council, Ward 2 
Corina Pfeil, Kenmore City (WA) Council, Position 7 
Donna Price, Albemarle County (VA) Board of Supervisors, Scottsville District
Jerred Price, Memphis City (TN) Council, District 7
John Rach, University Heights (OH) City Council, At-Large 
Air Rhodes, Beacon (NY) City Council, Ward 2 
Holly Ryan, Newton (MA) City Council, Ward 8
Beth Salkind, Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judge, District 32-2-52
Greg Smith, City and Borough of Juneau (AK) Assembly, District 1 
Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, Glen Cove City (NY) Council, At-Large Cesar Stewart-Morales, Framingham City (MI) Council, District 2
* Shawn Terry, Texas House of Representatives, District 108
Lori Trent, Upper Arlington (OH) Board of Education, At-Large 
Richard Trojanski, Maple Heights (OH) City Council, District 6 
Damien Warsavage, Upper Darby (PA) School Director, At-Large
Andy Yeoman, Doraville (GA) City Council, District 1

Incumbent Candidates

P.J. Brennan, College Park (MD) City Council, District 2 
Jane Campbell, Davidson Town (NC) Council, At-Large
Jane Cera, Clinton Township (OH) Trustee
James Demetriades, Cromwell (CT) Town Council, At-Large 
* Robert Gallegos, Houston City Council, District I
Mitra Nelson, St. Paul (MN) City Council, Ward 4 
Ryan O’Malley, Malden (MA) City Council, Ward 4  Henry Schwaller, Hays (KS) City Commission, At-Large

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