CHICAGO The Equality Illinois Political Action Committee (PAC) today issued its endorsements of candidates running for office in the November 6, 2012 general election who have indicated strong support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues.
"While this is an exciting presidential election year, those public officials who have the most direct impact on LGBT rights are the ones found down ballot, including state legislators. So when it comes to LGBT issues, we have been pouring over local races throughout the state to assess the candidates' positions. We are extremely proud of our slate of endorsed candidates in such an important election year for the LGBT community," Jeremy Gottschalk, President of Equality Illinois PAC Board of Directors, said.
The Equality Illinois Political Action Committee is the only statewide PAC focused on LGBT issues. Our endorsements are important assets for candidates, as the support comes from the political action arm of Equality Illinois..
ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR STATE SENATE:
Antonio "Tony" Munoz (D-1)
William "Willie" Delgado (D-2)
Mattie Hunter (D-3)
Kimberly A. Lightford (D-4)
John J. Cullerton (D-6)
Heather A. Steans (D-7)
Daniel Biss (D-9)
John G. Mulroe (D-10)
Martin A. Sandoval (D-11)
Kwame Raoul (D-13)
Emil Jones III (D-14)
Jacqueline "Jacqui" Collins (D-16)
Donne E. Trotter (D-17)
Iris Y. Martinez (D-20)
Michael Noland (D-22)
Thomas E. Cullerton (D-23)
Corinne M. Pierog (D-25)
Amanda Howland (D-26)
David R. Page (D-27)
Daniel W. Kotowski (D-28)
Julie A. Morrison (D-29)
Terry Link (D-30)
Melinda Bush (D-31)
Mike Jacobs (D-36)
Don Harmon (D-39)
Toi W. Hutchinson (D-40)
Linda Holmes (D-42)
Dave Koehler (D-46)
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-49)
ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Daniel J. Burke (D-1)
Edward J. Acevedo (D-2)
Luis Arroyo (D-3)
Cynthia Soto (D-4)
Kenneth "Ken" Dunkin (D-5)
Esther Golar (D-6)
Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-7)
La Shawn K. Ford (D-8)
Ann M. Williams (D-11)
Sara Feigenholtz (D-12)
Gregory Harris (D-13)
Kelly M. Cassidy (D-14)
Lou Lang (D-16)
Laura Fine (D-17)
Robyn Gabel (D-18)
Robert F. Martwick, Jr. (D-19)
Bruce Randazzo (D-20)
Michael J. Madigan (D-22)
Michael J. Zalewski (D-23)
Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez (D-24)
Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25)
Christian L. Mitchell (D-26)
Monique D. Davis (D-27)
Robert "Bob" Rita (D-28)
William "Will" Davis (D-30)
Mary E. Flowers (D-31)
Andre Thapedi (D-32)
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-34)
Al Riley (D-38)
Maria A. "Toni" Berrios (D-39)
Deborah L. Mell (D-40)
William R. Adams (D-42)
Keith Farnham (D-43)
JoAnn Franzen (D-45)
Andrew Bernard (D-50)
Dee Beaubien (I-52)
Curt Renz (D-53)
Richard S. Rudd (D-54)
Martin J. Moylan (D-55)
Elaine Nekritz (D-57)
Scott Drury (D-58)
Sam Yingling (D-62)
Carl R. Wasco (D-68)
Mike Smiddy (D-71)
Angelo "Skip" Saviano (R-77)
Camille Y. Lilly (D-78)
Anthony DeLuca (D-80)
Jehan Gordon (D-92)
Naomi D. Jakobsson (D-103)
Michael Langendorf (D-104)
ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY:
Anita Alvarez
ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR COOK COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS:
Karen Yarbrough
ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION COMMISSIONER:
Debra Shore
Endorsements were based on answers to Equality Illinois PAC's endorsement questionnaire, personal interviews, community input, and, where applicable, incumbent candidates' voting records on important LGBT issues.
Equality Illinois, a 501(c)(4) organization, was founded in 1991 to secure, protect and defend full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Equality Illinois PAC is Equality Illinois' affiliated political action committee.