In their 2024 “Out on the Trail” report, released in late October, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund revealed new data showing that LGBTQ+ candidates continue to grow in diversity and make gains in representation in key areas compared to the previous presidential election in 2020.
More LGBTQ+ candidates are on the ballot in 2024 when compared to 2020, with 574 on ballot in 2020 and 668 in 2024, growing 14.1%
“2024 is a pivotal year for our democracy, and we’ve already seen the power of hateful vitriol, misinformation and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric infecting the electoral process. Our work is the antidote, and we are proud to see so many LGBTQ+ candidates running to serve nearly everywhere in our nation – including nearly 400 candidates for state legislatures,” says LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Annise Parker.
The Fund tracked at least 1,017 LGBTQ+ candidates who ran for local, state or federal office in 2024, a slight increase over the 2020 count of 1,006 and a slight decrease from 2022 midterms. As of this report LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has endorsed 483 candidates for office in 2024.
In New England, on the November 5, 2024 ballots, Massachusetts has 17 candidates; New Hampshire has 23; Maine, 14; Vermont, 21; Rhode Island, 11; and Connecticut, 5, according to the new report.
Of candidates across the US, at least 668 will appear on the ballot, with 444 candidates on the ballot endorsed by LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
Around 15% of candidates in 2024 are gender diverse, including transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, Two-spirit, almost double from 7.9% of candidates in 2020.
Among LGBTQ+ candidates, lesbians have seen the sharpest drop in proportional representation of any sexual orientation, dropping from 26.7% of the total candidate count in 2020, to 16.1% of the candidate count in 2024. For the first time, candidates who are gay make up fewer than 50% of total candidates who ran in 2024.
Bisexual, pansexual, queer and asexual candidates increased in number and proportion between 2020 and 2024.
LGBTQ+ candidates are overwhelmingly Democrats with just over 9 out of 10 reporting as Democrats (830, 90.6%) Republicans represent 2.2% of LGBTQ+ candidates overall, and independents 3.6%.
“We know what’s at stake – our rights, freedoms and democracy itself. Out LGBTQ+ candidates for office bring critical values and perspectives to their work in leadership. These candidates represent our nation’s future, reflect our nation’s diversity and show that LGBTQ+ people are vital, instrumental voices in our halls of power,” Parker said.
Access the Out on the Trail 2024 report here.
— from an LGBTQ+ Victory Fund press release
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