LGBTQ+ Stories You Should Know About

May Endorsements and Key Races to Win!

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is proud to announce its endorsement of Representative Angie Craig in her historic bid for the U.S. Senate. If elected, she would become Minnesota’s first out LGBTQ+ senator!

We’re also backing outstanding state and local leaders who are shaping their communities. In Boston, Liz Breadon is running for City Council District 9, ensuring essential LGBTQ+ representation to City Hall. Over in New York, Chi Ossé is campaigning for reelection to a seat on the City Council, working to advance equity across the city. And in Detroit, Denzel McCampbell is striving for Detroit City Council District 7, aiming to bring diverse voices to local governance!

With these leaders in the race, we’re excited about the chance to expand LGBTQ+ representation at every level of government.

More Wins for LGBTQ+ Candidates!

And in big news: our Spotlight Candidate Gina Ortiz Jones made history as the first LGBTQ+ Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, one of the top ten largest cities in the country. She won San Antonio’s June 7 runoff with 54.3% of the vote, defeating Rolando Pablos, who earned 45.7%. In her victory speech, Jones underscored compassion: “Our city is about compassion and it's about leading with everybody in mind,” a clear contrast to more divisive rhetoric. A huge step forward for representation at every level!

Victory Fund Board Chair Joe Falk (who just celebrated a birthday!) was on the ground with Gina as she won. Watch the video here!

We’re thrilled to celebrate a wave of victories from Oregon's May 20 elections! While Oregon’s vote-by-mail system meant results came in a bit later, four of our endorsed candidates have officially secured wins:

Jose Gamero-Georgeson, David Douglas School District 40, Director, Position 7
William Miller, Mt. Hood Community College, Director, Zone 2
Thomas Stephenson, David Douglas School District 40, Director, Position 5
Heather Quaas-Annsa, Springfield School District #19, Director, Position 2

Races to Watch: Virginia and San Jose, CA!

As we turn our attention to Virginia, two critical races are coming up that will help determine whether the commonwealth maintains its pro-equality majority. The first is the June 17 primary, where LGBTQ+ Victory Fund–endorsed candidate Lindsey Dougherty is in a tight, toss-up race for the Democratic nomination in House District 75. Lindsey, a dedicated public policy professional and community leader, is also expected to face a competitive general election in November. Both wins will be decisive in the effort to hold and grow a pro-equality majority in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Looking ahead to November, Delegate Joshua Cole is in another toss-up race for re-election in House District 65. Josh flipped this seat in 2023 and has quickly become a rising star in Virginia politics, advocating for reproductive rights, increased education funding, and strong protections for the LGBTQ+ community. With just a 51–49 pro-equality majority in the House, retaining his seat is essential to preventing rollbacks on the progress Virginia has made.

These races matter deeply: Virginia remains the only Southern state with comprehensive LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination laws, and key constitutional amendments protecting abortion rights, voting access, and marriage equality are on the line. Victory in these districts is crucial to continuing that progress and defending the freedoms of all Virginians.

We'll be supporting these candidates every step of the way, and we hope you'll join us. Learn more about all our endorsed candidates in Virginia here!

Anthony Tordillos is heading to a June 24 runoff for San José City Council District 3! A strong advocate for affordable housing, safer streets, and inclusive leadership, Anthony is fighting to bring community-driven solutions to the heart of city government. If elected, he would be the only out LGBTQ+ member on the council. Watch his latest campaign ad here!