Well before many 2020 election results began dragging on for days, incumbent Congressmen David Cicilline of Rhode Island and Chris Pappas of New Hampshire sailed into early wins with 71.1% and 51.4% of their votes respectively.
And in doing so both became leaders of what the national media’s calling a new Rainbow Wave. Pappas and Cicilline are two of eight openly LGBTQ people elected to Congress in this election — and that number may grow to nine when all votes are counted — making the incoming US Congress “the queerest in history,” as Out magazine calls it. (Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema bring the elected officials on Capital Hill to a total of 10 or most likely 11).
Both Cicilline and Pappas are cochairs of the US Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. Pappas is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from New Hampshire. Cicilline, who previously served as mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, was the first openly gay chief executive of any US state capital.
On the state level, while Delaware’s Sarah McBride deservedly caught the national spotlight in becoming the first openly trans state senator in the nation, Vermont sees its first openly transgender state rep with Taylor Small’s election to the State House.
Another big win is Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, who became New Hampshire’s first LGBTQ woman elected to the Granite State Senate. And in Rhode Island, educator and activist Tiara Mack beat State Senator Harold Metts, who had a record of opposing LGBTQ rights.
Other notable winners in New England’s blue wave include:
In the Bay State, incumbents State Senators Jo Comerford (Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester) and Julian Cyr (Cape and Islands); State Reps Natalie Higgins (4th Worcester), Kate Hogan (3rd Middlesex), Jack Patrick Lewis (7th Middlesex), Elizabeth Malia (11th Suffolk) and Sarah Peake (4th Barnstable); and Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff (the first openly LGBTQ person elected to a Bay State Constitutional office).
In New Hampshire, incumbent State Reps Joe Alexander Jr. (Hillsborough 6), Lisa Bunker (Rockingham 18), Gerri Cannon (Strafford 18), Jim MacKay (Merrimack 14), Sue Mullen (Hillsborough 7), Andrew O’Hearne (Sullivan 7), Joshua Query (Hillsborough 16) and Joyce Weston (Grafton 8). Incumbent State Rep Linda Tanner (Sullivan 9) awaits recount.
In Vermont, incumbent State Senator Becca Balint (Windham); and incumbent State Reps Brian Cina (Chittenden 6-4), Kathleen James (Bennington-4) and William (Bill) Lippert Jr. (Chittenden 4-2). Balint is the senate majority leader and will run for president pro tempore (presiding over the senate in the absence of the lt. gov.) in the coming term.
In Maine, incumbent State Reps Kyle Bailey (District 27), Ryan Fecteau (District 11), Laurie Osher (District 123), Lois Reckitt (District 31), Charlotte Warren (District 84) and Barbara Wood (District 38).
In Rhode Island, incumbent State Senators Sam Bell (District 5), Tiara Mack (District 6) and Melissa Murray (District 24); and incumbent State Reps Rebecca Kislak (District 4) and Deborah Ruggiero (District 74).
In Connecticut incumbent State Reps Raghib Allie-Brennan (District 2) and Jeff Currey (District 11).
Congratulations, all!
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