Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

According to the Victory Fund,  at least 1,065 out LGBTQ people ran for office in the November midterm elections. At least 340 out LGBTQ won their races as of November 9, 2022 with more results yet to come in.

 In Pennsylvania

• Jessica Benham, State Representative in Pennsylvania House District 36 and the first openly queer woman to serve in the General Assembly won her reelection. Benham identifies as bisexual.
• La’Tasha Mayes, an out Black lesbian, was elected to Pennsylvania State Representative in House District 24.
• Izzy Smith-Wade-El, an out Black bisexual nonbinary person, won election to represent House District 49 in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
• Malcolm Kenyatta handily won reelection to serve the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in District 181. Malcolm is the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color to serve in that body. He identifies as an Black/African-American/Afro-Caribbean gay cisgender man.

We still don’t know who will control the US House of Representatives or Senate. Visit your favorite national news sites for updates on that convoluted tale. We may know something about the Senate by Saturday when Nevada expects to finish counting ballots.

Important allies won as well

• John Fetterman, United States Senate
• Josh Shapiro, Governor
• Austin Davis, Lt. Governor
• Summer Lee, US House of Representatives
• Chris DeLuzio, US House of Representatives
• IF the Democrats take control of the State House, Representative Joanna McClinton will be the first Black woman (and first woman) to serve as Speaker of the House

Other elections of consequence

• Tina Kotek Makes LGBTQ History; Becomes One of the First Two Lesbian Governors in U.S. History
• Erick Russell Shatters Lavender Ceiling; First Black LGBTQ Person Ever Elected Statewide in U.S. History (Connecticut)
• Dana Nessel Wins Reelection; Remains First and Only LGBTQ Person Elected Statewide in Michigan
• Jennie Armstrong and Andrew Gray Shatter Lavender Ceilings; First LGBTQ People Ever Elected to the Alaska State Legislature
• Kameron Nelson Makes LGBTQ History; Restores LGBTQ Representation to the South Dakota Legislature
• Eric Sorensen Shatters Lavender Ceiling; First LGBTQ Person Ever Elected to Congress from Illinois
• Zooey Zephyr Shatters Lavender Ceiling; First Trans Person Ever Elected to the Montana State Legislature
• Angie Craig Wins Reelection; Remains First and Only LGBTQ Member of Congress from Minnesota
• Erin Maye Quade and Clare Oumou Verbeten Become First LGBTQ Women and First Black Women Ever Elected to the Minnesota State Senate;
• Leigh Finke Makes History as the First Trans Person Ever Elected to the Minnesota State Legislature
• Robert Garcia Shatters Lavender Ceiling; First LGBTQ Immigrant Ever Elected to Congress
• Celia Israel Advances to Run-Off in Austin Mayoral Race; Would Be First LGBTQ Person Elected Mayor of Austin
• Chris Pappas Remains the First and Only LGBTQ Member of Congress from New Hampshire
• Sharice Davids Wins Reelection; Remains First and Only LGBTQ Member of Congress from Kansas
• Black LGBTQ Representation Triples in Texas Legislature; Christian Manuel-Hayes, Venton Jones and Jolanda Jones Shatter Lavender Ceilings
• Jason Hoskins Shatters Lavender Ceiling; First LGBTQ Person of Color Ever Elected to the Michigan State Legislature
• Maura Healey Shatters Lavender Ceiling in Massachusetts; No U.S. State Had Ever Elected a Lesbian Governor
• James Roesener Shatters Lavender Ceiling; First Trans Man Elected to a State Legislature in U.S. History
• Becca Balint Shatters Lavender and Glass Ceilings; First LGBTQ Person and First Woman Elected to Congress from Vermont
• Keturah Herron Shatters Lavender Ceiling; Remains Kentucky’s First and Only LGBTQ State Representative

And Daryl Metcalfe wraps up his disservice to Pennsylvania by retiring at the end of this term.

Keep paying attention. Many elections are yet to be determined and we can anticipate some court battles. But undoubtedly it is a historic year for LGBTQ candidates.