Elections took place in several states Sept. 14, and the results made at least two groups of peoplegays and the conservative organization known as the Tea Partyrevelling in victory.
According to a press release from the Victory Fund ( which works to elect LGBT candidates to public office ) , 29 of its 33 candidates advanced in primaries or won their elections outright. Among the victors was Providence, R.I., Mayor David Cicilline, who is running to represent Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District. Cicillinewho now faces two independents and a Republican in the general electionsaid, Now is the time to set our priorities right," according to ProJo.com .
In, Maryland, is set to have as many as seven out gay and lesbian state lawmakers in the same session, GayPolitics.com reported. Four are incumbents and three newcomers won their Democratic primaries.
The LGBT demographic also got a boost from a defeat. In New York, Democratic state Sen. Bill Stachowski lost to Tim Kennedy in the 58th District, according to the New York Daily News. Last year, Stachowskiwho was criticized by the pro-gay-marriage group Fight Back New Yorkwas one of eight Democratic state senators to vote against a marriage-equality measure that ultimately failed to pass through the Senate.
In what some considered a surprise, Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty lost his bid for re-election to City Council Chairman Vincent Gray in the Democratic primary. Fenty had signed the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Act of 2009, legalizing same-sex marriage in the district.
The Tea Party movement savored primary victories in Delaware and New York. The most notable win was in Delaware, where Christine O'Donnellwho is so socially conservative that she has spoken out against masturbationeasily upset nine-time U.S. Rep. Mike Castle in the Republican U.S. Senate primary. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had endorsed O'Donnell while the national GOP had backed Castle.