The first openly LGBT non-incumbent to win a seat in the House is now seeking to become the first ever openly LGBT person in the Senate. Rated a tossup, this race is worth funding in order to
have the strongest and most unapologetic voice for equality in the Senate. Baldwin has sponsored or co-sponsored ALL the LGBT equality legislation tracked by our companion site ActOnPrinciples.org.
"It’s time for bold progressive values in the U.S. Senate."
In his first term in Congress, as its fourth openly
LGBT member, Cicilline was very active and is cosponsoring
the Repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, the Employment
Nondiscrimination Act, the Uniting American Families Act, the Student
Nondiscrimination Act, and several other pro-equality bills. Cicilline got just over 50% of the vote in 2010, and this year's election is likely to be just as close against the same opponent.
"Throughout my career, I've found that it is much more difficult for
elected officials to advocate for denying the LGBT community our basic
rights when they are working alongside an openly gay colleague. I
believe that the simple act of electing more LGBT leaders to positions
ranging from City Council to the US Congress can have an important
impact on the advancement of full equality for our community."
CONGRESSWOMAN CAROL SHEA-PORTER (D-NH) FOR U.S. HOUSE
Shea-Porter voted for the Hate Crimes bill and
voted to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. But she lost re-election in the GOP takeover in 2010 to a Tea
Party supporter and immediately started running a strong campaign to win
back her seat. With only a 27% favorability rating of the incumbent,
and with broad support from her base and from independents with buyer's
remorse, her chances looks good.
"I take the words 'with liberty and justice for all' very seriously. It is a pledge."
Kuster, a Georgetown educated lawyer and loyal Democratic activist, earned our endorsement 2 years ago and fell just 1% short of beating a popular politician. Her rematch is expected to be just as close, which is why funding this strong pro-equality woman is so important to advancing LGBT equality.
"I was a proud advocate for New Hampshire's marriage equality bill and our national leadership on the issue. I look forward to standing up for fairness and equality in Congress."
As a native in this newly created Southern California Congressional District that has a net 7% Democratic registry,
Takano, who is openly gay, is a very strong pro-equality candidate. In a
prior election, Takano
outperformed President Clinton, Senator
Boxer, and Senator Feinstein at the polls.
"America began as an imperfect union in which ideas of freedom and
equality applied to one gender and one race. Let us evolve already into
the nation we should be. ENDA, yes; Out in Uniform, yes; Marriage
Equality, yes; Respect, yes; Dignity, yes; LGBT equality, yes."
Not to be confused with former Congressman Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, who was an eQualityGiving endorsed candidate in 2010, Murphy is a young businessman with a CPA who considers himself fiscally conservative and socially liberal. He's one of the top two non-incumbent fundraisers for a House seat in the nation, having been funded by the likes of Charlie Crist, Donna Shalala and Ron Ansin. While the primary is very competitive, the general will be one of the most expensive House races in the nation.
"I believe that equality for the LGBT community is the civil rights priority of our time. If elected, I will not accept half measures. I will openly support gay marriage and will be a champion for gay rights in Congress.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN (D-WI) FOR U.S. HOUSE
An openly gay man who currently holds the Wisconsin
State Rep. seat that Tammy Baldwin once held is now aiming to be her
replacement in Congress. Considered by many to be a front runner in the
primary in a heavily Democratic district, Pocan is leading in
fundraising and name recognition due to his impressive record during his
18 years in the legislature. A Pocan victory here would ease the
concern that Congress is losing a strong pro-equality politician.
"In my public services, I shepherded legislation to create a domestic
partner registry, created domestic partnership benefits for state
employees, and increased funding for HIV/AIDS resource organizations as
well as funds to help LGBT youth. I'm happy to say I married my partner
Phil in 2006."
Attempting to become Minnesota's first openly LGBT
person in Congress, Anderson has what it takes to win back a long-held
Democratic seat lost to the GOP in 2010: a local presence, experience,
name recognition, youthful vitality, and integrity. A three way primary
is his first hurdle before taking on the GOP incumbent in a Democratic
district where Senator Klobuchar and President Obama are expected to
have long coat tails.
"I am proud of my work in Northern Minnesota promoting equality for
all people and want to take this record of accomplishments to the Unites
States House of Representatives."
STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT HEINZ (D-AZ) FOR U.S. HOUSE
Currently in his second term in the Arizona Statehouse, this openly gay physician seeks the seat once held by openly gay Representative Jim Kolbe and recently vacated by Gabrielle Giffords, who was twice endorsed by us in the past. Dr Heinz is running for a special election (with an April primary and June general) to fill the remainder of Gifford's term and has been endorsed by one of her closest friends - though Heinz has stated he would withdraw from the race should a Giffords aide decide to run. Either way, Heinz is running for the November election for the newly drawn district, which is more Democratic than the current one, and where there is no clear front runner.
“I will tirelessly advocate in Congress for the inalienable rights of our Community – and for all Americans. It is with your generous support that I will be able to step up our struggle for equality and bring us closer to the day that America is truly one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
The former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, State Senator and Gubernatorial Nominee is a strong candidate to win this very competitive open seat. His support from Congressman Cicilline, among others, is due to all his pro-equality work. He is co-endorsed along with Eric Griego and Michelle Lujan Grisham until the primary in June.
"I'm proud to have been a leader on these issues before it was popular and have been picketed by conservative ministers for embracing the LGBTQ community."
Co-endorsed in this race along with Michelle Lujan
Grisham and Marty Chavez, Senator Griego has a proven record of
supporting LGBT equality as an Albuquerque City Councilman and then as a
State Senator in New Mexico, specifically working to pass a Domestic
Partner Bill and defeating a state Defense of Marriage Act.
"Now, more than ever, it is important to send leaders to Washington
who have been unwavering in their support for LGBT issues and who will
be strong advocates for the LGBT community. I have been consistent in my
support for full LGBT equality and will continue to fight for what is
fair for all Americans in the United States House of Representatives."
COUNTY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (D-NM) FOR U.S. HOUSE
In a race that is expected to be neck and neck for both the primary and the general, Lujan Grisham has high favorability ratings and is a strong, progressive candidate that has proven ability to work both sides of the aisle. Her pro-equality positions are firm. She is co-endorsed along with Marty Chavez and Eric Griego until the primary in June.
"I support legal equality and will stand for the protection of the same basic human rights for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."
PENDING ENDORSEMENTS:
CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH - for re-election in a newly drawn Congressional district, Ohio
Former CONGRESSMAN ALAN GRAYSON - for election in a newly drawn Congressional district, Florida
ELIZABETH WARREN - for election to the US Senate, Massachusetts
MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION
For statewide races, the maximum you can donate depends on the state. For candidates to Congress and President, the maximum total that you can give to federal candidates in 2011-2012 is
$46,200 ($2,500 to individual candidates). This is why it is critical
to focus your giving on candidates that are pro-equality before giving
to candidates that may not be 100% on our issues.
These
candidates up for election in 2012 deserve to be endorsed since they
are pro-equality, but funding their campaigns is not as strategic
because they are not in a competitive race (either they consistently
poll ahead of or behind their opponent(s) by more than 10 points). Should any eQualityGiving Hero or other endorsed candidate find themselves in close races, they will be listed as an Endorsed
Candidate to Fund, and an alert will be sent to inform the donors.
These Endorsed Candidates are pro-equality incumbents and are expected to win re-election handily:
GOVERNOR PETE SHUMLIN - Vermont
SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND - New York
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS - Vermont
SENATOR DIANE FEINSTEIN - California
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI - California
CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER - Oregon
CONGRESSMAN KEITH ELLISON - Minnesota
CONGRESSMAN JOHN GARAMENDI - California
CONGRESSMAN ALCEE HASTINGS - Florida
CONGRESSMAN RUSH HOLT - New Jersey
CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON JR. - Illinois
CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE - California
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS - Georgia
CONGRESSWOMAN CAROLYN MALONEY - New York
CONGRESSMAN JIM MCGOVERN - Massachusetts
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE - Wisconsin
CONGRESSMAN JIM MORAN - Virginia
CONGRESSMAN JERROLD NADLER - New York
CONGRESSWOMAN CHELLIE PINGREE - Maine
CONGRESSMAN JARED POLIS - Colorado
CONGRESSWOMAN LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD - California
DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON - District of Columbia
OTHERS TO BE ADDED LATER
These Endorsed Candidates are pro-equality but not in close races and are expected to either win or lose by a wide margin:
LIST BEING COMPILED
If you have given to one of these Endorsed Candidates, please post your reasons why in the Giving For Equality Blog. A few sentences about your motivation and strategy will be very compelling for other donors.
Keep up to date on how to reach legal equality faster by signing for our spam-free eQuality alerts. Even better, register to have access to confidential information on this website (benefits of registration). Registration is free, and your information is not given to anyone.
Mr Wall's comments regarding the current endorsed candidates are appreciated. Many of these races are very fluid, and it is often tough to measure a candidate's chances of winning re-election this early in the election cycle.
Some of the races he pointed out have candidates that are in the process of earning our endorsement. This requires a careful evaluation with a questionnaire, an interview, and an analysis of the candidates prospects of winning. eQualityGiving is in the process of producing the next set of endorsed candidates, and the updated list is likely to reflect several of Mr. Wall's suggestions.
Your list of endorsed candidates Pro Equality Candidaes expecting easy re-elections in 2012 is dated and flawed.
David Cicciline of Rhode Island is not a safe bet for re-election at this point. I would rate him no better than 50 -50 at this point in fact. Voters blame him for Providence fiscal troubles (he is former Mayor). Cicciline is likely to face a serious primary challenge (rematch with Anthony Gemma?). And the Republicans are offering a serious pair of opponents for the general election. To claim Cicilline is expected to handily win re-election defies the facts quite frankly.
Two on your list are retiring: John Olver and Barney Frank of Massachusetts. Frank just retired yesterday of course, but Olver retired a couple weeks back at this point.
Alcee Hastings of Florida is another on the list who faces big hurdles. First he is under an ethics investigation (sexual harassment claim) in the House. Plus, the recently released first draft of the new Florida House districts puts incumbents Hastings and David Rivera (R-also very corrupt) in the same district. There is rarely a safe incumbent when facing another incumbemt.
Jesse Jackson Jr. faces a significant primary challenge from former Rep. Debbie Halvorson in a new district that now stretches to the Wisconsin border and is more racially balanced than Jackson has represented to date. Jackson is still favored to survive a primary at this time, but to say he is expected to win handily again falls short of the electoral reality of a serious primary challenge.
Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich has announced for the newly drawn Ohio 9th and faces a huge primary battle with the more Senior Democrat Marcy Katpur in a primary. Not only is Kucinich not expected to win election handily, Katpur is considered by most the favorite to win the Democratic primary in the new Ohio 9th.
It is hard to have confidence in a site that is not accurately portraying House races to potential donors.
