WASHINGTON, DC - The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the nation’s largest gay and lesbian political action committee, announced in June that nine of its endorsed candidates won their elections or won enough votes to move on to a runoff. Many of the Victory Fund-endorsed candidates overcame vicious attacks by well-funded, anti-gay challengers. These wins from last month’s races come on the heels of 11 wins earlier this year, three of which are outright wins.
      One of the goals of the Victory Fund has been adding openly gay or lesbian elected officials in state legislatures where there are currently none - an effort the group refers to as the “Legislative Horizon States” Campaign.
       Three candidates have advanced to help the organization move closer to that goal:
• In Alabama, Patricia Todd fended off a last-minute smear campaign in order to make it to a July 13 runoff for a state legislature seat in a Birmingham district.

• Matt McCoy won his primary in Iowa to defend his legislative seat in November even after repeated attacks from a “family values” opponent. This is McCoy’s first race as an openly gay candidate.

• Kathy Webb won her Democratic primary in May for a seat in the Arkansas state legislature. She is poised to become the first openly LGBT legislator in the state’s history.
       “Increasingly, fairness trumps fear. Our candidates are winning because voters understand they care about issues that matter to them - the economy, schools, crime and health care. A candidate’s sexual orientation is a nonissue among fair-minded Americans,” said Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Victory Fund. “Our successful candidates provide a compelling vision for advancing public policy on a wide range of issues voters care about - and, ultimately, that’s what resonates with the voter. Not whether or not the candidate is gay or lesbian.”
       Wolfe also noted that key wins in states whose legislatures have no openly LGBT representation present an opportunity for dialogue on issues important to all types of families.
      “Other legislators respond to the courage and commitment demonstrated by their openly gay and lesbian colleagues. It’s harder to be intolerant towards those you know and work with every day,” he said.
       A recent Zogby poll conducted for the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute found that more than 70% of respondents would vote for an openly gay or lesbian candidate for state legislature if the candidate shared their views on the issues.
        The following are significant wins as of mid-June:
• Patricia Todd - Alabama State House, moves on to a runoff on July 13.

• Ken Yeager - California, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, won his seat outright with more than 50% of the vote in a field of three candidates.

• Kevin Dowling - California, Hayward City Council, incumbent who was re-elected to his seat.

• David Rubin - California, San Diego Superior Court Judge, who was elected to his seat.

• Richard Gordon - California, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, incumbent who retains his seat.

• John Laird - California State Assembly, incumbent with no general election opposition.

• Mark Leno - California State Assembly, incumbent advances to general election.

• Matt McCoy - Iowa State Senate, Incumbent - advances togeneral election Nov. 7.

• Christine Kaufmann, Montana State House, incumbent with no general election opposition.

From Gay and LesbianVictory Fund press release. The Fund provides strategic,technical and financial support to openly LGBT candidates and officials. In 14 years, Victory has helped the number of openly LGBT officials grow from 49 to over 350. For more information,
visit www.victoryfund.org