They are in a competitive race (usually polling within 10 points of the opponent). See the criteria for endorsements.
All of the candidates to fund were personally interviewed by eQualityGiving. To initiate the endorsement process, the candidate must complete this form.
This 27 year old CPA, software designer and mommy from Virginia wants to bring the values that young people have to Congress, including the need to raise their children in a society that promotes safety and equality.
"There is no right more fundamental than the choice of whom you marry and raise children with. This is the essence of the Constitution. Equality under the law, whether you are gay or straight, black or white, man or woman, Christian, Jew or Muslim."
The openly gay Mayor of Palm Springs is the ideal candidate to defeat the vulnerable Mary Bono Mack. WIth a terrific track record as mayor, including allowing the streets of downtown Palm Springs to be used as a celebration when marriage equality became law in California, and a long history of community leadership, Steve has be an asset to the community and would be another welcome voice for equality in the House.
"As a married father of two young children, I'll fight every day to ensure that they grow up in a world that truly and fully embraces equality in the armed services, in marriage, in parenting, and in protecting people for who they are."
GIVE TO STATE COMPTROLLER DAN HYNES (D-IL) FOR GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS
Currently serving his 3rd term as State Comptroller, after a landslide statewide election, Hynes, 41, has long been an advocate for LGBTQ civil rights, and his support has helped the passage of pro-equality laws in Illinois. His website puts equality as issue #2 saying he is "pushing for marriage equality in Illinois."
"I will make a fight for marriage equality a priority and will use the bully pulpit of the office to advocate for full equality. Just as I have done as Comptroller, I will maintain an open door and a receptive ear to the LGBTQ community."
GIVE TO CONGRESSMAN JOE SESTAK (D-PA) FOR US SENATE
This
3 star retired Navy admiral supports all equality goals and has been an
outspoken advocate for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." As a Senator,
he would co-sponsor equality legislation, just as he has done in the
House.
"My
position on the civil rights issues of the LGBT community is born out
of my 31 years of service in the US Navy. I went to war with brave
servicemen and women, where it was known - because of public surveys -
that a certain percentage were gay. How can you come home and say 'you
went to war for my country with me, but you don't deserve equal
rights?' "
GIVE TO SECRETARY OF STATE DEBORAH MARKOWITZ (D-VT) FOR GOVERNOR OF VERMONT
As Secretary of State for 12 years, she is well-qualified for the open seat. As the sister of a lesbian, she understands LGBTQ issues intimately. As a civil rights attorney, she wants to make Vermont the first state to provide FULL equality to ALL its citizens. As Governor, she will sign the Gender Identity Act.
"It is my hope that when my children are ready to get married, the issue of marriage equality will be behind us, and we can focus on what is truly important--our common interest to have stable loving families."
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.
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 2009-2010 is$45,600 ($2,400 to individual candidates). This is why it is criticalto focus your giving on candidates that are pro-equality before givingto candidates that may not be 100% on our issues.
OTHER ENDORSED CANDIDATES IN 2010
These candidates up for election in 2010 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 the opponent by more than 10 points or they trail the opponent consistently by more than 10 points). Should any eQualityGiving Heroes 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 DEVAL PATRICK - Massachusetts
SENATOR BARBARA BOXER - California
SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD - Wisconsin
SENATOR KRISTEN GILLIBRAND - New York
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER - New York
SENATOR RON WYDEN - Oregon
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI - California
CONGRESSWOMAN TAMMY BALDWIN - Wisconsin
CONGRESSWOMAN SHELLEY BERKLEY - Nevada
CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER - Oregon
CONGRESSMAN KEITH ELLISON - Minnesota
CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK - Massachusetts
CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS - Arizona
CONGRESSMAN JOHN GARAMENDI - California
CONGRESSMAN ALCEE HASTINGS - Florida
CONGRESSMAN RUSH HOLT - New Jersey
CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON JR. - Illinois
CONGRESSMAN PATRICK KENNEDY - Rhode Island
CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH - Ohio
CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE - California
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS - Georgia
CONGRESSWOMAN CAROLYN MALONEY - New York
CONGRESSWOMAN BETSY MARKEY - Colorado
CONGRESSMAN JIM MCGOVERN - Massachusetts
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE - Wisconsin
CONGRESSMAN JIM MORAN - Virginia
CONGRESSMAN JERROLD NADLER - New York
CONGRESSMAN JOHN OLIVER - Massachusetts
CONGRESSWOMAN CHELLIE PINGREE - Maine
CONGRESSMAN JARED POLIS - Colorado
DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON - District of Columbia
These Endorsed Candidates are pro-equality but are not in close races and are either expected to win or lose by a widemargin:
GOVERNOR DAVID PATERSON - New York
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