Democrats had some setbacks nationally on Election Night 2021 as they lost some important races including the Virginia governor’s seat, but LGBTQ candidates did very well with projections showing that after the votes are counted, over 1000 out LGBTQ people will have been elected. Major victories occurred in New York City and Virginia and a record number of non-binary candidates won their races.
The full story from LGBTQ Victory Fund’s press release:
1000+ LGBTQ Elected Officials Will Serve for First Time; LGBTQ Candidates Win Historic Victories on Election Night; 83 Victory Fund Endorsed Candidates Won So Far
Washington, DC – As of 3:45pm ET on November 3 and as ballots continue to be counted, 83 LGBTQ candidates endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund have won their races and five remain undecided, out of the 131 that were on the ballot on Election Night. When these leaders take office, the number of out LGBTQ people serving in elected office will surpass 1000 for the first time. There are currently 997 out LGBTQ elected officials serving in the United States, but 53 incumbents were not running for reelection.
Below are detailed storylines on the historic LGBTQ Election Night victories so far. View Victory Fund’s live Election Night tracker for the latest endorsed candidate results. As more results come this week, Victory Fund will provide an estimate of the total number of LGBTQ candidates who won during the 2021 election cycle (including LGBTQ candidates not endorsed by Victory Fund.
“LGBTQ candidates across the country had a very successful Election Night and when they take office, we will have more than 1000 out elected officials serving for the first time,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “These victories for down-ballot candidates are critical, because local officials are best-positioned to change hearts and minds – as well as policies and legislation. Although the national media spotlight is focused on politics in Washington, DC, it is state and local leaders like the ones who won on Election Night that most impact the daily lives of residents.
“While we shattered lavender ceilings in many cities and states, key losses for pro-equality candidates and the continued barrage of anti-LGBTQ bills must be a wakeup call for LGBTQ people and allies. The 2022 election cycle begins now and the anti-LGBTQ attacks and fights may be more brutal than ever. LGBTQ candidates could determine whether pro-equality majorities are maintained in Congress and in state legislatures throughout the country in 2022. Victory Fund is already at work on these races and we call on our community to join us.”
Here are key Election Night storylines as of November 3 at 3:45pm ET:
America Will Have 1000+ Out LGBTQ Elected Officials Next Year
With last night’s LGBTQ candidate victories, the number of out LGBTQ elected officials serving nationwide will surpass 1000 for the first time. Currently, there are 997 out LGBTQ elected officials serving. Yet 53 incumbents were not running for reelection, making it unclear until the victories last night whether the 1000 threshold would be reached.
Non-Binary Elected Officials Will Increase Nationwide
Three non-incumbent non-binary candidates and one incumbent won election Tuesday night – increasing the number of non-binary candidates serving nationwide from 11 to 14 when they take office. Xander Orenstein won a seat on the Allegheny County Magisterial District Court in Pennsylvania, becoming the first non-binary person elected to a judicial position in the United States. Thu Nguyen won their race for Worcester City Council to become the first non-binary person ever elected in the state of Massachusetts. Stanley Martin won their race for the Rochester City Council in New York to become the first non-binary person to serve in that body and Sarah Salem won reelection to the Poughkeepsie City Council, also in New York.
New York City Elects Most Out LGBTQ Councilmembers Ever
Six out LGBTQ candidates endorsed by LGBTQ Victory Fund won their general election campaigns for the New York City Council, increasing the number of out representatives from four to six and ensuring LGBTQ representation on the council remains. It is the largest group of out LGBTQ councilmembers ever elected – the previous record being five.*
Among the winners are Crystal Hudson (District 35) and Kristin Richardson Jordan (District 9), who will be the first two Black out LGBTQ women elected to the council. Lynn Schulman (District 29) and Tiffany Cabán (District 22), who will be the first out LGBTQ women elected to any public office from Queens. Chi Ossé (District 36), who will be the youngest person ever elected to the council and Erik Bottcher (District 3), who will preserve LGBTQ representation in his district, an LGBTQ legacy seat that is home to the Stonewall Inn.
LGBTQ representation on the council was at risk going into Election Day, given all four currently serving out LGBTQ members were termed out.
* New York City Councilmember James Vacca came out in 2016 – making it six out LGBTQ councilmembers on the council – however Vacca retired from the seat in 2017 and never won election as an out LGBTQ person.
Liliana Bakhtiari Poised to Be First LGBTQ Muslim Elected in Georgia and Only Non-Binary Person Serving on City Council of Major U.S. City
Liliana Bakhtiari is on-track to win her election for the Atlanta City Council, becoming the first out LGBTQ Muslim ever elected in Georgia and the only out non-binary person serving on the city council of a top 50 U.S. city. As of 3:45pm ET on November 3, Liliana captured approximately 50 percent of the vote in a five-way race with all precincts reporting. However, the race has not been called and could go to a runoff if her vote count dips beneath 50 percent.
Non-Incumbent LGBTQ Candidates of Color Make History in City Council Races
Non-incumbent LGBTQ candidates of color won key races for city councils across the country. New York City Council candidates Tiffany Cabán, Crystal Hudson, Kristin Richardson Jordan and Chi Ossé won their races, as mentioned above. Liliana Bakhtiari’s race for Atlanta City Council remains promising but undecided, also mentioned above.
Other city council candidates of color making history include:
- Christopher Coburn: became the first Black out LGBTQ person elected in the state of Montana with his win for Bozeman City Council;
- Reggie Harris: became the first Black out gay man elected to the Cincinnati City Council;
- Darin Mano: became the first Asian American out LGBTQ person elected to the Salt Lake City Council;
- Stanley Martin: became the first non-binary person elected to the Rochester City Council and one of the first Black out LGBTQ people elected to the body;
- Gabriela Santiago-Romero: became the first out LGBTQ woman elected to the Detroit City Council and the first out LGBTQ Latinx person elected in Michigan;
- Dontae Payne: became the first Black man elected to the Olympia (WA) City Council;
- Alejandro Puy: became the first Latinx out LGBTQ person elected to the Salt Lake City Council; and
- Alex Wan: restored LGBTQ Asian American representation to the Atlanta City Council.
Additionally, Keisha Sean Waites’ race for Atlanta City Council will head to a runoff. She would be the first Black out LGBTQ woman elected to the council.
Dion Manley Is First Trans Person Elected in Ohio, And Other School Board Wins
Dion Manley won his election for the Gahanna Jefferson School Board, making him the first trans person elected in all of Ohio. There are currently just five trans men serving in elected office anywhere in the country. The victory is especially significant given efforts by anti-trans activists across the nation to target trans students at school board meetings and the surge in anti-trans bill introduced in state legislatures.
Seven other Victory Fund endorsed school board candidates also won their elections – including four non-incumbents.
Danica Roem Defeats Her Third Anti-Trans Opponent in Virginia; Two Other Incumbents Win
Danica Roem won reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates, ensuring she remains the longest serving out trans state legislator in U.S. history. Despite running against an anti-LGBTQ opponent in a key swing district, Roem sent a series of persuasion mailers to likely voters that emphasized her work to pass LGBTQ legislation while in the state legislature. Delegate Dawn Adams also won reelection in a closely watched race in another swing district, defeating an anti-LGBTQ opponent, and Delegate Mark Sickles won reelection as well.
Roem previously faced two transphobic opponents. She defeated her 2017 opponent, Bob Marshall, a 25-year incumbent and self-described “chief homophobe” of the Virginia state legislature, to become the first out and seated trans state legislator in U.S. history. She then defeated another anti-trans opponent, Kelly Sweeney McGinn, by even larger margins in 2019.
View the latest update on Victory Fund’s 2021 endorsed candidate races at victoryfund.org/2021.
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LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve.
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
