The good news is the number of LGBT candidates moving on to the general election after the Sept. 1 state primary in Massachusetts.
There’s actually some “silver lining” news too about the losses by both national LGBT candidates Robbie Goldstein and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse for US House of Representatives. The winners in both of these races, incumbent Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Richard Neal, have received strong endorsements from the national LGBTQ advocates at the Human Rights Campaign.
HRC had also endorsed the primary’s winner for US Senate, Ed Markey, over another strong LGBTQ supporter, US Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who leaves his seat in Congress in 2021. (As of early Sept. 2, former Brookline Selectwoman Jesse Mermell, who’s voiced support for the LGBTQ community, holds a narrow lead for Kennedy’s Congressional seat over Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss, who’s record on this issue appears questionable; but by Friday morning, Sept. 4, Auchincloss had taken the lead and was declared the winner, reported the Associated Press).
And Jordan Meehan — currently the policy coordinator for the Bay State’s Commission on LGBTQ Youth — lost his race for state rep. in the 17th Suffolk District. Meehan would have become the youngest openly LGBTQ member of the Massachusetts state legislature. Gretchen Van Ness came in a strong second in her bid to represent the 14th Suffolk District.
Without further ado, here are the Bay State’s LGBTQ candidates moving on from last night’s primary and into the general election on Nov. 3:
Jo Comerford (D)—State Senate; Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester (incumbent)
Julian Cyr (D)—State Senate, Cape and Islands (incumbent)
Natalie Higgins (D)—State Rep, 4th Worcester District (incumbent)
Kate Hogan (D)—State Rep, 3rd Middlesex District (incumbent)
Jack Patrick Lewis (D)—State Rep, 7th Middlesex District (incumbent)
Elizabeth Malia (D)—State Rep, 11th Suffolk District (incumbent)
Sarah Peake (D)—State Rep, 4th Barnstable District (incumbent)
Eileen Duff (D)—Mass. Governor’s Council, District 5 (incumbent). Eileen is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to a Bay State Constitutional office.
We apologize to anyone we may have missed; if we’ve missed someone we’d love to hear about it and help get the word out about all they do!
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