LGBTQ+ Candidates Won Key Races in 2023 Elections

The recent 2023 election yielded promising results for LGBTQ+ political candidates. The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has proudly proclaimed the results to be a rainbow wave, and it’s easy to see why. One hundred and twenty eight LGBTQ+ candidates won their contests in last week’s elections, and 103 of those were candidates endorsed by the Victory Fund. Additionally, four LGBTQ+ candidates are headed to runoffs, including Mario Castillo and Nick Hellyar, both of whom are running for Houston City Council. 

These wins shattered records for LGBTQ+ candidates compared to previous off-year election cycles. This election cycle is also a result of the queer people organizing and running for office in historic numbers. Especially in the face of rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation, queer people now, more than ever, have decided they need to stand up and defend our communities.

With 123 victories, it would prove difficult to go over every victory, but it’s important to note that these queer candidates made significant headway for democrats in key states. In particular, Virginia was hotly contested this year. Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin and his supported candidates ran anti-trans ads in the lead-up to the state legislature elections in Virginia. Even still, all of Victory Fund’s endorsed state legislative candidates in Virginia won their races.

Notably, Danica Roem, who made history in 2018 after she became the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature, broke records again becoming the first trans state senator in the South, beating another anti-trans Republican politician for the seat. In the Virginia House of Delegates, democrats were able to gain control with the victories of Joshua Cole, Rozia Henson, Adele McClure, Marcia Price, Mark Sickles, Laura Jane Cohen, and Kelly Convirs-Fowler. The GOP has historically held control of the House of Delegates in Virginia and these victories ensure a pro-equality majority in both chambers of the Virginia legislature. 

Queer history was made across the country with LGBTQ+ candidates shattering rainbow ceilings from every corner of the nation. Fabian Nelson officially became Mississippi’s first out LGBTQ+ legislator, making Louisiana the last state to have never elected an openly queer person to its legislative body. In New Jersey, Luanne Peterpaul became the state’s first out, queer woman elected to the state assembly. 

The victories we saw last week were not confined to state legislatures, however. LGBTQ+ candidates won mayoral races, seats on city councils and school boards. These wins at a local level stand as an important first-line-of-defense against anti-LGBTQ+ extremism and hate. 

After a year that has seen an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, trans kids used as political scapegoats, and a Christian fundamentalist becoming the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, these election results prove LGBTQ+ equality is not a far flung dream. From Mississippi, to rural Pennsylvania, from New York City to Houston, the hard work and bravery of these LGBTQ+ candidates has been awarded.