The “blue wave” that rolled across the United States on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 4) carried a number of openly-LGBTQ+ candidates into office, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
The Victory Fund endorsed 264 LGBTQ+ candidates in 37 states this year, with 171 of those candidates appearing on ballots in the 2025 General Election, according to a Victory Fund press release. This marks the highest number of LGBTQ+ candidates that Victory Fund has ever endorsed in a non-federal election year.
As of 10 p.m. CT on Nov. 5, Victory Fund had announced victories for 86 of its endorsed candidates. Three others advanced to runoffs while 34 lost their races. As of 10 p.m., 52 races remained undecided.
Dems sweep in Virginia
In Virginia, where Democrats won every statewide contest and Abigail Spanberger won the governor’s race by some 15 points, seven Victory Fund-endorsed candidates won their races for seats in the House of Delegates, “helping to flip seats and secure a pro-equality majority in the state amid homophobia and transphobia during the election cycle,” noted a Victory Fund press release.
The six candidates who won re-election to the House of Delegates were Rozia Henson, Laura Jane Cohen, Adele McClure, Marcia Price, Mark Sickles and Joshua Cole. Lindsey Dougherty defeated a Republican incumbent to win her race.
Making history in Pennsylvania
In Downingtown, Penn., Erica Deuso made history as the first transgender person elected mayor in the state’s history.
Evan Low, president & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, said that Deuso’s victory has “made history and sent a message far beyond Pennsylvania. As one of the few out transgender mayors elected in America, Erica’s leadership will inspire trans youth across the country who are looking for hope in a time of relentless attacks.
“Her victory proves that when we lead with authenticity, empathy, and vision, communities respond with trust and support,” Low said.
In Texas
Of those 171 candidates endorsed in this week’s General Election, two were in Texas. State Rep. Jolanda Jones placed third in a crowded field of 16 candidates running for the Texas’ District 18 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, a seat left open when Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner died in March.
Democrat Christian Menefee, the current Harris County attorney, came in first with 29 percent of the vote. That puts him in a runoff with fellow Democrat Amanda Edwards, a former member of the Houston City Council, who claimed 26 percent of the vote. Jones, in third place, earned 19 percent, leaving the remaining 26 percent split among the other 13 candidates.
The only other Texas candidate endorsed by Victory Fund in this election is Alejandra Salinas who advanced to a runoff with former council member Dwight Boykins in the race for At-Large Position 4 on the Houston City Council. Salinas had the highest vote tally with 21 percent while Boykins earned 20 percent.
Salinas is an attorney and a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP, a national firm with offices in Houston. She has served on the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce board as as a Democratic National Committee At-Large member.
— Tammye Nash