From Staff Reports
Amidst all the celebration of the “blue tsunami” that swept over the U.S. in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, you might have missed that rainbow tint coloring the leading edge of the Democratic wave. Not only will there be a record number of LGBTQ+ lawmakers taking their seats in Congress come January, LGBTQ+ candidates made history across the spectrum at the state and local levels, too.
Here’s a look at some of those victories.
U.S. Senate
Chris Pappas, who has represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District since 2019, made history on Election Night, when he captured New Hampshire’s open seat in the U.S. Senate to become the first openly-gay man ever elected to the Senate. The AP officially called the race for Pappas at 8:20 p.m. ET on Nov. 3, just 20 minutes after polls here in Texas closed at 7 p.m. CT, with his landmark win setting the tone for the rest of the evening.
Pappas, who ran his campaign on issues like affordability, reining in corruption across levels of government and protecting LGBTQ rights, defeated Republican former senator John Sununu, 56 percent to 42 percent.
U.S. House, newly-elected
(Reporting by Joe Reberkenny of The Washington Blade, reprinted here courtesy of NGMA)
LGBTQ candidates elected to their first terms in Congress in the midterms are:
Cait Conley, New York Dist. 17
Cait Conley has defeated incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District, flipping the Hudson Valley seat for Democrats. Conley, a former Army officer who served six overseas deployments and worked on the National Security Council, campaigned on lowering costs for working families, expanding affordable housing and protecting access to health care.
With 98 percent of the vote counted, Conley defeated Lawler 53 percent to 47 percent.
Jeremy Moss, Michigan Dist. 11
Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss won election to the U.S. House, defeating Republican Ethan Baker in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District by 61 percent to 37 percent. Moss, who served as president pro tempore of the Michigan Senate and was the state’s first openly gay senator, campaigned on lowering health care costs, addressing affordability, protecting LGBTQ rights and holding the Trump administration accountable.
Moss won the seat currently held by Haley Stevens who chose to leave her House seat to run for the U.S. Senate and who, after losing to Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic Primary last spring, infuriated Democrats by endorsing El Sayed’s Republican opponent in the general election.
JoAnna Mendoza, Arizona Dist. 26
Marine veteran JoAnna Mendoza defeated Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, 53 percent to 45 percent, flipping the highly competitive southern Arizona seat for Democrats. Mendoza campaigned on lowering costs for working families, creating good-paying jobs, strengthening health care access, protecting veterans’ benefits and addressing border security and immigration. She also emphasized restoring accountability and trust in government.
Marni von Wilpert, California Dist. 48
San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert defeated Republican Jim Desmond in California’s 48th Congressional District, 50 percent to 40 percent. This was a competitive race for an open seat previously held by retiring Republican Congressman Darrell Issa. Von Wilpert campaigned on lowering the cost of living, expanding affordable housing and health care, protecting reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights and holding federal immigration officials accountable.
Scott Wiener, California Dist. 11
California State Sen. Scott Wiener won the open congressional seat in California’s 11th District and will succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Wiener faced off against fellow Democrat Connie Chan, a San Francisco supervisor, in the race to represent the heavily Democratic district, winning 53 percent to 47 percent. Wiener campaigned on expanding LGBTQ rights, protecting transgender Americans, lowering health care and housing costs and reforming federal immigration enforcement. He also made passing the Equality Act a central part of his campaign platform.
J.D. Ford, Indiana Dist. 5
Indiana State Sen. J.D. Ford defeated Republican incumbent Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, 52 percent to 49 percent, flipping the seat for Democrats. Ford, Indiana’s first openly LGBTQ state legislator, campaigned on lowering health care and housing costs, protecting Medicaid, addressing affordability and holding the federal government accountable. He also supported passing the Equality Act to establish federal LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections.
Janelle Sarauw, U.S. Virgin Islands
Former Virgin Islands Sen. Janelle Sarauw is the territory’s next delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating independent candidate Shelley Moorhead, 77 percent to 21 percent. Sarauw campaigned on improving health care access, protecting Medicaid funding, lowering prescription drug costs, strengthening veterans’ services and modernizing the Government Employees’ Retirement System. She also emphasized securing stronger federal representation for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
U.S. House, incumbents
Sarah McBride, Delaware At Large
Delaware’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, easily defeated Republican challenger Joseph Arminio, 64 percent to 36 percent. Earlier this year, during a forum attended by both candidates, Arminio misgendered McBride multiple times and was subsequently asked to leave.
McBride campaigned on a range of issues, including affordability, health care access, immigration, reproductive health care and workers’ rights. The day after the election, McBride posted on Instagram that “Delaware clearly rejected the politics of hate in favor of the politics of hope.”
Robert Garcia, California District 42
California’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia won reelection by defeating Republican challenger Brian Burley, 62 percent to 38 percent. Garcia, the former mayor of Long Beach, has focused on infrastructure, transportation, education and LGBTQ rights during his time in Congress. In the current Congress, Garcia served as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, where he pushed for additional investigations into the Trump-Vance administration, including its handling of the Epstein files. Following Democrats’ victories, Garcia is positioned to take over as chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Becca Balint, Vermont At Large
Vermont’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Becca Balint won reelection to a third term by defeating Republican challenger Gerald Malloy, 65 percent to 31 percent. Balint, a former teacher and Vermont state senator, centered her campaign on affordability, housing, mental health and protecting democracy. She also criticized Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran, arguing that both were contributing to higher costs for Americans.
Emily Randall, Washington, Dist. 6
Washington’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Emily Randall won reelection to represent the state’s 6th Congressional District by defeating Republican challenger Teresa Fox, 63 percent to 37 percent.
Randall, who previously served in the Washington state Senate, made expanding access to affordable health care a central part of her campaign. She also focused on lowering costs for working families and protecting access to essential services.
Eric Sorensen, Illinois Dist. 17
Illinois’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen won reelection to a third term in Congress, defeating Republican challenger Dillan Vancil, 60 percent to 40 percent. Sorensen, a former television meteorologist, centered his campaign on lowering costs for working families. His priorities also included protecting health care access, supporting rural communities and addressing the economic challenges facing residents of western Illinois.
Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Dist. 2
Wisconsin’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan was unopposed in his campaign for reelection to a third term representing the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
He has focused on health care affordability, workers’ rights and LGBTQ equality.
He also serves as co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he is expected to hold more leadership power in the new congressional term.
Mark Takano, California Dist. 39
California’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Takano won reelection to another term representing the state’s 39th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Steve Manos, 68 percent to 32 percent. Takano has made health care and veterans’ issues central to his congressional work.
He has also been an advocate for LGBTQ equality, and he serves as co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Ritchie Torres, New York Dist. 15
New York’s incumbent U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres won reelection to another term representing the Bronx’s 15th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Stylo Sapaskis receiving 78 percent to 11 percent.
Torres, who previously served on the New York City Council, has centered his congressional work on housing, economic development, education and public safety.
Sharice Davids, Kansas Dist. 3
Kansas incumbent U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids won reelection to another term representing the state’s 3rd Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Eric Jenkins, 60 percent to 38 percent.
Davids, a former White House fellow and attorney, centered her campaign on agriculture, lowering costs and expanding access to health care. She has also emphasized supporting Kansas businesses and working families.
When she was first elected to Congress in 2018, Davids was the first openly-LGBTQ person elected to Congress from Kansas, one of the two Native American women ever elected to the House.
The other was Deb Haaland, who went on to become the first Native American cabinet secretary when she was appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Joe Biden. On Nov. 3, Haaland because the first Native American woman elected governor of a U.S. state.
Other LGBTQ+ election winners
LGBTQ+ candidates who were endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and who won their races on Nov. 3 include:
- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey won a second term with a 62 percent to 35 percent win over Republican Michael Roger Minogue.
- Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell won a second term with a 59 percent to 41 percent win over Republican Fred Wilms.
- Allison Montgomery was elected as Alabama’s first openly transgender lawmaker.
- Bentley Hudgins was elected as the first trans and nonbinary member of the Georgia General Assembly.
- Joanna Whaley was elected as the first openly transgender woman in the Michigan Legislature.
- Jaelynn Scott was elected as the first openly transgender woman in the Washington Legislature.
IN TEXAS
As of Wednesday night, Nov. 11, 2026 LGBTQ+ candidates endorsed by the Victory Fund had been declared winners in their races. That list includes Texas House incumbents Ann Johnson in District 134, Erin Zweiner in District 54, Jessica González in District 104, Josey Garcia in District 124, Lauren Simmons, Mary González in District 75 and Venton Jones in District 100.
Other Victory Fund candidates who won races in Texas are Dallas County JP Precinct 3, Place Adam Swartz, 190th Judicial District Court Judge Beau Miller, Bexar County District Clerk Christine Castillo, Travis County Court At Law Judge Denise Hernández, Harris County Probate Court No. 3 Judge Jason Cox, Harris County Probate Court No. 1 Judge Jerry Simoneaux, Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Karl-Thomas Musselman, Texas Judicial District 455 District Court Judge Laurie Eiserloh, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Maggie Ellis, Dallas County Justice of the Peace Omar Narvaez, Dallas County Justice of the Peace Sara Martinez, Harris County Criminal Court No. 4 Judge Shannon Baldwin, Travis County Central Appraisal District Board of Directors Place 1 Skyler Korgel, Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Pace 2 Steve Duble, and Dallas County Judicial District Court 116 Judge Tonya Parker