Today, November 5, (gasp! at long last!) is the 2024 General Election’s voting day. Here is a list of openly LGBTQ+ candidates on the ballots across New England. If you haven’t voted yet today, or via mail-in or early voting, don’t forget to vote. Remember: representation matters! And here are leaders who strongly represent the LGBTQ+ community.
Massachusetts
incumbent Senator William Brownsberger (D, Suffolk and Middlesex District. Brownsberger is the only pansexual person in the Bay State legislature.
Also advancing on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot are Senate incumbents Jo Comerford (D, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District) and Julian Cyr (D, Cape and Islands District; Cyr serves as Senate Assistant Majority Whip and on many committees, including chair of the joint committee on public health); and Becca Rausch (D, Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex).
Non-incumbent Erin Bradley (D, Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol District) also seeks a seat in the State Senate. Bradley was the first out LGBTQ+ member of the Milton, Massachusetts Select Board.
Over in the State House of Representatives, incumbent State Rep. Natalie Higgins (D, Incumbent, District 4-Worcester) is on the ballot. Higgins is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ Caucus and cochairs the Sexual Violence Working Group of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and other committees.
As are incumbents State Rep. Kate Hogan (D, District 3-Middlesex), Adam Scanlon (D, District 14-Bristol), John Moran (D, District 9-Suffolk District), Thomas Moakley (D, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket District) and Jack Patrick Lewis (D, District 7-Middlesex; a champion of LGBTQ+ rights and the rights of all Bay Staters on Beacon Hill, Lewis is also a cofounder of the LGBTQ+ youth advocacy nonprofit OUT MetroWest).
Non-incumbents also on the ballot seeking House seats include Sam Montaño (D, District 15-Suffolk) and Amy May Sangiolo (D, District 11 Middlesex).
Tamisha Civil (D, District 2) is running for a seat on the Governor’s Council.
New Hampshire
In the Granite State primaries on Sept. 10, New Hampshire voters resoundingly backed the openly LGBTQ candidates on the ballot.
US Congressman Chris Papas advanced to the General Election on Nov. 5. In 2019, Pappas became the first openly LGBTQ person from the Granite State elected to Congress. Currently, he cochairs the US Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.
Emmett Soldati (D, District 1), also moved to the General Election in his bid for the state’s Executive Council. The Granite State’s five-person council operates as a check on the governor, holding veto power over contracts, pardons and nominations—including judicial nominations.
Incumbent Granite State Senators Dan Innis (R, District 7) and Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D, District 21) also advance to the Nov. 5 ballot. In 2020, Perkins Kwoka became the first LGBTQ woman to serve in the Granite State Senate.
And incumbent Granite State Reps Jim MacKay (D, District 18 Merrimack), Alissandra Murray (D, District 20 Hillsborough), James Roesener (D, District 22 Merrimack) and Linda Tanner (D, District 5) also move on to the Nov. 5 General Election.
Vermont
Vermont held its primary election for statewide officials and Congressional candidates Tuesday, and 15 openly LGBTQ+ candidates won their races and now move on to the Nov. 5 election.
After yesterday’s results, US Congresswoman Becca Balint (D, Incumbent) advanced from the primary. In 2022, Balint became the first woman and first openly LGBTQ US Congress member from the Green Mountain State. Previously, in 2021, she became the first female openly gay person and first woman sworn in as state Senate president pro tempore.
State Treasurer Mike Pieciak (D, Incumbent) also advanced from the primary.
Winning their primary elections in the State Senate are Tanya Vyhovsky (D, Incumbent, Chittenden Central) and Becca White (D, Incumbent) Windsor. From 2019 to 2022, White also served in the state’s house.
Winning primary elections in the State’s House are Tiff Bluemle (D, Incumbent Chittenden 13); Brian Cina (Progressive Party, Incumbent, Chittenden 15); Mari Cordes (D, Incumbent, Addison); William Greer (D, Bennington 2); Kathleen James (Progressive Party, Incumbent, Bennington 4); Emilie Kornheiser (D, Incumbent, Windham 7; Saudia LaMont (D, Incumbent, Lamoille-Washington District; Josie Leavitt (D, Incumbent, Grand Isle-Chittenden); Mike Rice (D, Incumbent, Bennington-Rutland); Mary-Katherine Stone (D, Incumbent, Chittenden-14); and Heather Surprenant (D, Incumbent, Windsor 4).
Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, incumbent State Senators Sam Bell (D, District 5) and Tiara Mack (D, District 6) both won their primaries and advance to today’s Nov. 5 General Election.
And incumbent Ocean State Reps Rebecca Kislak (D, District 4) and Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D, District 23) won their bids for the Nov. 5 General Election.
Maine
In the Maine State Senate, incumbent Craig Hickman (D, District 14) is up for reelection. In 2012, Hickman became the first openly gay Black man elected to the state’s legislature. After serving four terms in the House, in 2021 he became the first Black man to serve in both of Maine’s legislative chambers.
Over in the State House of Representatives, openly LGBTQ candidates up for reelection include Lydia Crafts (D, District 46), Ryan Fecteau (D, 132; Fecteau previously served as state rep. from 2014 to 2022 and was the first openly gay person elected as Speaker of the House), Cheryl Golek (D, District 99), Matt Moonan (D, District 117), Laurie Osher (D, District 25), Amy Roeder (D, District 23), and Charles Skold (D, District 119).
Non-incumbent Ellie Sato (D, District 109) is also on the ballot.
Connecticut
Incumbent State House Reps Raghib Allie-Brennan (D, District 2), Marcus Brown (D, District 127), Jeff Currey (D, District 11), and Dominique Johnson (D, District 143).
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