Press Release

2010 Victory Fund endorsements grow to 76

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Denis Dison (202) 842-7308, denis.dison@victoryfund.org

Increasing Numbers of Openly LGBT Candidates Run for Local, State and Federal Offices
 

Washington, D.C.—Seventy-six openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) political candidates have been endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund so far this year—an unusually high number this early in the election cycle that suggests the group could support a record number of candidates in 2010.  Among the endorsees are five candidates for the U.S. Congress, two for statewide office and 35 state legislative candidates.

“We’re proud that more LGBT Americans are stepping up to run for public office and refusing to wait for others to lead.  When they win, many more of our authentic voices will be in positions of real power, and our democracy will be strengthened.  This is good for the LGBT community and good for our country,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund.

Current endorsees include: Nickie Antonio, a Democrat running for the Ohio State House; David Cicilline, a Democrat running for Congress from Rhode Island; Dave Coulter, a Democrat running for the Michigan State Senate; Lucia Guzman, a Democrat running for the Colorado State Senate; and Richard Tisei, a Republican running for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.

The Victory Fund endorses candidates throughout the year after thorough reviews of endorsement applications.  In 2009, 54 of its 79 endorsees won their elections, and in 2008 80 of 111 endorsed candidates were victorious.  The Victory Fund is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and the only national group dedicated to growing the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government.

Some of the Victory Fund’s 2010 endorsees’ races have already concluded.  The currently endorsed candidates are:

Nickie Antonio--Ohio State House
Toni Atkins--California State Assembly
Tammy Baldwin--U.S. House of Representatives (Wisconsin)
Jay Barth--Arkansas State Senate
Kevin Beiser--San Diego Unified School Board
Simone Bell--Georgia State House
Bryce Bennett--Montana State House
Dana Beyer--Maryland House of Delegates
Julia Boseman--District Court Judge, North Carolina
John Brady--Recorder of Deeds, Sussex County, Delaware
Terry Brown--County Auditor, Franklin County, Ohio
David Cicilline--U.S. House of Representatives (Rhode Island)
Luke Clippinger--Maryland House of Delegates
Michael Colona--Missouri State House
Cathy Connolly--Wyoming State House
David Coulter--Michigan State Senate
Terry Crow--Mayor, University City, Missouri
Patrick Davis--Sheriff, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Kevin Dowling--Supervisor, Alameda County, California
Bonnie Dumanis--District Attorney, San Diego County, California
Henry Fernandez--School Board, Lawrence Township, Indiana
Mark Ferrandino--Colorado State House
Gary Fitzsimmons--District Court Judge, Dallas County, Texas
Barney Frank--U.S. House of Representatives (Massachusetts)
Robert Garcia--City Council, Long Beach, California
Rich Gordon--California State Assembly
Jim Gray--Mayor, Lexington, Kentucky
Lucia Guzman--Colorado State Senate
Matt Heinz--New Mexico State House
Scott Hines--City Council, Rancho Mirage, California
Kate Hogan--Massachusetts State House
Ron Holland--Mayor, Dillon, Colorado
Tony Japour--Florida State House
Jolie Justus--Missouri State Senate
Anne Kaiser--Maryland House of Delegates
Ken Keechl--County Commission, Broward County, Florida
Victoria Kolakowski--Superior Court Judge, Alameda County, California
Tina Kotek--Oregon State House
Ricardo Lara--California State Assembly
Nicole LeFavour--Idaho State Senate
Kevin Lembo--Lieutenant Governor, Connecticut
Evan Low--City Council, Campbell, California
David Lublin--City Council, Chevy Chase, Maryland
Byron Macfarlane--Register of Wills, Howard County, Maryland
Al McAffrey--Oklahoma State House
Matt McCoy--Iowa State Senate
Doug Milliken--Treasurer, Arapahoe County, Colorado
Heather Mizeur--Maryland House of Delegates
Jeanette Mott-Oxford--Missouri State House
Sarah Peake--Massachusetts State House
Tom Peters--School Board, University City, Missouri
Jared Polis--U.S. House of Representatives (Colorado)
Steve Pougnet--U.S. House of Representatives (California)
Jill Ravitch--District Attorney, Sonoma County, California
Kyle  Richmond--Supervisor, Dane County, Wisconsin
Sue Schafer--Colorado State House
Gerrie Schipske--City Council, Long Beach, California
Brad Shore--City Council, Long Beach, California
Denise Simmons--Massachusetts State Senate
Mike Slaton--Kentucky State House
Pat Steadman--Colorado State Senate
Mark Thrun--Colorado State House
Richard Tisei--Lieutenant Governor, Massachusetts
Patricia Todd--Alabama State House
Mitch Ward--California State Assembly
Richard Waterman--City Council, Campbell, California
Kathy Webb--Arkansas State House
Michael Wilson--California State Assembly