Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed 20 more out LGBTQ candidates. Victory Fund has now endorsed 292 candidates running in the 2022 midterms.
Candidates given Game Changer status include Michael Pieciak who is running for Vermont State Treasurer and state Representative Deborah Ruggiero who is running for Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor. If elected, Pieciak would be the first out LGBTQ State Treasurer in Vermont history and Ruggiero would be the first out LGBTQ person elected to a statewide office in Rhode Island.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the endorsements:
“With more and more LGBTQ people running for office at all levels of government — from school boards to Congress — it’s crystal clear the Rainbow Wave is stronger than ever. Voters are ready to enact change by electing exceptionally qualified pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ legislators who are ready to stand up and fight for our rights and freedoms. This November will be one of the most high-stakes elections for the LGBTQ community as anti-equality politicians target LGBTQ kids, schools and our ability to access lifesaving health care. The best way to punch back against this bigotry is to elect LGBTQ people to office until we finally break the ultimate lavender ceiling and reach equitable representation.”
The complete list of candidate endorsements announced today is below:
Game Changer Endorsements
Michael Pieciak (he/him)
Vermont State Treasurer
Primary: 8/9/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Deborah Ruggiero (she/her)
Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor
Primary: 9/13/2022
General: 11/8/2022
General Candidates
Kristin Alfheim (she/her)
Wisconsin State Senate, District 19
Primary: 8/9/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Danté Anderson (she/her)
Charlotte City Council, District 1
Primary: 5/17/2022
General: 7/26/2022
Noah Arbit (he/him)
Michigan House of Representatives, District 20
Primary: 8/2/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Ken Carlson (he/him)
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 4, CA
Primary: 6/7/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Amie Carter (she/her)
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, CA
Primary: 6/7/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Ally Layman (she/her)
West Virginia House of Delegates, District 24
Primary: 5/10/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Eric Nakano (he/him)
San Dimas City Council, District 2, CA
General: 6/7/2022
Samy Nemir Olivares (he/they)
New York State Assembly, District 54
Primary: 6/28/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Andrea Olsen (she/they)
Montana State Senate, District 50
Primary: 6/7/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Heath Ouellette (he/him)
Maine House of Representatives, District 146
Primary: 6/14/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Anthony Quezada (he/him)
Cook County Commission, District 8, IL
Primary: 6/28/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Charles Skold (he/him)
Maine House of Representatives, District 119
Primary: 6/14/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Andrew Taban (he/him)
William S. Hart Union High School District Board of Trustees, Trustee Area 2, CA
General: 11/8/2022
Omar Torres (he/him) San Jose City Council, District 3, CA
Primary: 6/7/2022
General: 11/8/2022
General Incumbent Candidates
Florencio Briones (he/him)
El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees, Area 4, CA
General: 11/8/2022
Heather Meyer (she/her)
Kansas House of Representatives, District 29
Primary: 8/2/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Michele Rayner (she/her)
Florida House of Representatives, District 62
Primary: 8/23/2022
General: 11/8/2022
Taylor Small (she/her)
Vermont House of Representatives, Chittenden-21
Primary: 8/9/2022
General: 11/8/2022
More information about all of Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates is available at http://victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.
LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.