eQualityGiving endorses political candidates based on their competitiveness and their position on equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans. See the details...
Check here to view the list of currently Endorsed Candidates.
SCOPE OF ENDORSEMENTS
eQualityGiving limits its endorsements to candidates running for federal office (President and Congress) and statewide positions (e.g., Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Attorney General).
Candidates are endorsed independently of party affiliation, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
CANDIDATES ARE RANKED ON TWO DIMENSIONS: Position on Equality Goals and Competitiveness
a) POSITION ON EQUALITY GOALS
Equality Goals are the freedoms, rights, and protections guaranteed to all Americans, but currently denied to LGBTQ Americans.
The Equality Goals that we have identified are:
- Hate Crimes
- Non-Discrimination
- Civil Marriage Equality
- Military: repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell
- Freedom of Gender
- Protecting Youth
- Same Sex Parenting Rights
A candidate who publicly supports all Equality Goals is classified as Pro-Equality.
A candidate who publicly supports gay rights or LGBTQ rights but not all Equality Goals is classified as a Heartbreaker.
A candidate who does not support most of the Equality Goals or who has vetoed equality legislation is classified as Anti-Equality.
b) COMPETITIVENESS
Competitiveness is measured as being within 10 points of the competitor in the best polling available. This means that a pro-equality candidate who is basically assured to win would fall into the "applaud" category and not into the "donate" category. Similarly, a candidate who has very little chance of winning would also fall into the "applaud" category. That is a crucial element to giving strategically.
Based on their position on the Equality Goals and Competitiveness, politicians are classified by eQualityGiving into
four categories. Each category has a different strategic priority. Note that we co-endorse if multiple candidates meet the criteria.
1. ENDORSED CANDIDATES TO FUND
These are the candidates who meet all of following criteria:
- Running for federal or statewide office
- Publicly support all Equality Goals
- Competitive in their race (within 10 points of the opponent)
- Any party affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity
This is the highest priority for funding. They are listed as Endorsed Candidates to Fund. To propose a candidate to endorse, please use this form.
2. OTHER ENDORSED CANDIDATES
These candidates meet all the criteria listed above for endorsement except that they are not in a competitive race (either because they are consistently ahead of the opponent by more than 10 points or they are trailing the opponent consistently by more than 10 points). They are listed as Other Endorsed Candidates. These candidates will be moved to the Endorsed Candidates to Fund list when they poll within 10 points of their opponent.
In this case, funding should be only to maintain relationships with a candidate that you know personally. In the exceptional case of candidates in competitive races who are funding their campaign wholly with personal funds, they are also listed as Other Endorsed Candidates. To propose a candidate to endorse, please use this form.
3. HEARTBREAKING CANDIDATES
Candidates running for federal or statewide office who support LGBTQ rights, but are not pro-equality (because they do not support all of the Equality Goals) are listed as Heartbreaking Candidates. To propose a listing for a Heartbreaking Candidate, please use this form.
If these candidates are comfortable in their election or re-election (at least 10 points ahead of their opponent), the stratgey is to encourage them to become fully pro-equality, which would also make them Equality Heroes.
For Heartbreaking Candidates in competitive races (within 10 points of the opponent), the goal is to convince them of the additional financial support that they could get from LGBTQ donors if they publicly announced they were pro-equality.
4. CANDIDATES TO DEFEAT
Candidates who meet all of the following criteria are listed as Candidates to Defeat:
- Running for federal or statewide office
- Strongly oppose most Equality Goals or have vetoed equality legislation
- Competitive in their race (within 10 points of their opponent)
- Any party affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity
Use this
form to propose a Candidate to Defeat.
Check also: Endorsed Candidates | Form to Endorse Candidates | Heartbreaking Candidates | Candidates to Defeat | Propose Candidate to Defeat
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