Can’t Stop Us Now

2022’s Rainbow Wave

There were some notable LGBTQ+ winners in November, including the nation’s first two lesbian governors.

BY TRUDY RING

The 2022 midterm election didn’t bring the red (Republican) wave that was predicted, but it did bring a rainbow wave, with at least 436 out LGBTQ+ candidates, almost all Democrats, winning their races, 100 more than in 2020. Out candidates had a 60 percent win rate, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund.

Despite the gains, LGBTQ+ Americans are still far from proportional representation — that would take 35,000 more being elected. “This Rainbow Wave was fueled by a record number of LGBTQ candidates who defied the odds by running — and winning — in the face of extraordinary anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and attacks,” said a statement from Victory Fund President and CEO Annise Parker. “Bigots underestimated our power and determination as they’ve done throughout history. While this election has given us much to be optimistic about, such as a historic number of victorious trans and nonbinary candidates, we still have a long way to go before we achieve equitable representation in government. LGBTQ people have never been fully represented in government and until that day, we will not stop organizing, we will not stop fighting and we will not stop running for office.”

Some Notable Winners from November:

Maura Healey

Tina Kotek

Tina Kotek of Oregon and Maura Healey of Massachusetts were elected as the nation’s first out lesbian governors. Both are Democrats. Kotek, the former speaker of the Oregon House, prevailed in a tough race over Republican Christine Drazan. Healey, Massachusetts’s attorney general, beat Republican Geoff Diehl by a wide margin. Healey tells us her sports background aided her to win: “Athletics taught me a lot about self-esteem, confidence, resiliency, teamwork, and not being afraid. Playing basketball helped a great deal especially when I first ran for office, first got up on a stage, my first speech.”

BECCA BALINT

MICHAEL PIECIAK

Vermont has its first out congressional representative, lesbian Becca Balint, who’s also the first woman the state will send to the U.S. House. And Vermont elected gay man Michael Pieciak as treasurer. Both Democrats, are Vermont’s first out statewide elected officials (the state has only one congressional district, so Balint’s post is statewide).

ERIC SORENSEN

Meanwhile, Illinois elected its first out congressman, gay Democrat Eric Sorensen. Sorensen, a TV weatherman, will represent the 17th Congressional District, covering a mix of urban and rural areas in western Illinois. He bested far-right Republican Esther Joy King for the open seat.

ROBERT GARCIA

Robert Garcia of California is the first out gay immigrant elected to Congress. The mayor of Long Beach since 2014, he won the U.S. House seat in California’s 42nd Congressional District over Republican John Briscoe. Garcia immigrated to the United States from Peru with his family at age 5. Garcia celebrated his election with tweets trolling anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

ERICK RUSSELL

Connecticut voters chose Democrat Erick Russell as state treasurer, making him the first Black gay man (or Black LGBTQ+ person in general) elected to a statewide office.

JENNIE ARMSTRONG

ASHLEY CARRICK

ANDREW GRAY

Alaska and South Dakota, which lacked any out-state legislators, now have elected them, all Democrats. Jennie Armstrong, Ashley Carrick, and Andrew Gray won their races for the Alaska House, making them the state’s first out lawmakers.

KAMERON NELSON

South Dakota restored LGBTQ+ representation to its legislature by electing gay man Kameron Nelson to the state House; it hadn’t had an out legislator since Angie Buhl O’Donnell, a bisexual woman, left the South Dakota Senate in 2015.