The number of openly LGBTQ people running for elected offices across the US jumped from 432 to 574 between the 2018 midterm and 2020 general elections — an increase of 33%, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund’s recent “Out on the Trail: 2020 LGBTQ Candidates Demographics Report.” And dozens of them are on the ballot in New England.
“A historic number of openly LGBTQ people are running for office this year,” said Victory Fund President and CEO Mayor Annise Parker, “and we have the opportunity to elect an unprecedented number on Election Day.”
Here are the LGBTQ candidates running for election in New England today:
In Massachusetts
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.
In New Hampshire
Chris Pappas (D)—US House of Representatives (incumbent). Pappas is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from New Hampshire, and cochair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.
Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D)—State Senate, District 21. If elected, Perkins Kwoka will become the first LGBTQ woman to serve in the Granite State Senate.
Joe Alexander (R)—State Rep, Hillsborough District 6 (incumbent)
Lisa Bunker (D)—State Rep, Rockingham District 18 (incumbent)
Gerri Cannon (D)—State Rep, Strafford 18 (incumbent)
Jim MacKay (D)—State Rep, Merrimack District 14 (incumbent)
Sue Mullen (D)—State Rep, Hillsborough 7 (incumbent)
Andrew O’Hearne (D)—State Rep, Sullivan 7 (incumbent)
Joshua Query (D)—State Rep, Hillsborough 16 (incumbent)
Linda Tanner (D)—State Rep, Sullivan 9 (incumbent)
Joyce Weston (D)—State Rep, Grafton 8 (incumbent)
Nikki Fordey (D)—State Rep, Hillsborough District 20
Bryce Stack (D)—State Rep, Hillsborough District 21
In Rhode Island
David Cicilline (D)—US House of Representatives. Cicilline is cochair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. He is also running for Assistant Speaker of the House right after the general election on Nov. 3.
Sam Bell (D)—State Senate, District 5 (incumbent)
Tiara Mack (D)—State Senate, District 6
Melissa Murray (D)—State Senate, District 24 (incumbent)
Rebecca Kislak (D)—State Rep, District 4 (incumbent)
Deborah Ruggiero (D)—State Rep, District 74 (incumbent)
In Vermont
Becca Balint (D)—State Senate, Windham District (incumbent). Becca could be the next State Senate Leader.
Brian Cina (Vermont Progressive Party)—State Rep, Chittenden 6-4 (incumbent), identifies as “multi-spirited”
David Glidden (D)—State Rep, Franklin 3-1
Kathleen James (D)—State Rep, Bennington-4 (incumbent)
William (Bill) Lippert Jr. (D)—State Rep, Chittenden 4-2 (incumbent)
Ember Quinn (D)—State Rep, Chittenden 10. Ember could be one of the state’s first openly trans legislators.
Taylor Small (D)—State Rep., Chittenden 6-7. Taylor could be one of the state’s first openly trans legislators.
In Maine
Kyle Bailey (D)—State Rep, District 27 (incumbent)
Ryan Fecteau (D)—State Rep, District 11 (incumbent)
Laurie Osher (D)—State Rep, District 123 (incumbent)
Lois Reckitt (D)—State Rep, District 31 (incumbent)
Charlotte Warren (D)—State Rep, District 84 (incumbent)
Barbara Wood (D)—State Rep, District 38 (incumbent)
In Connecticut
Mary Fay (R)—US House of Representatives, District 1
Raghib Allie-Brennan (D)—State Rep, District 2 (incumbent)
Jeff Currey (D)—State Rep, District 11 (incumbent)
Shaun Mastroianni (R)—State Rep, District 43 (incumbent)
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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