Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Illinoisans among 39 Victory Fund endorsements for 2019/2020
2019-11-26

This article shared 4088 times since Tue Nov 26, 2019
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


LGBTQ Victory Fund—the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office—endorsed 39 more openly LGBTQ candidates for 2019 and 2020 races, including three incumbent members of Congress.

Included in the newest group of endorsed candidates are Ken Mejia-Beal, who is running for Illinois state rep in the 42nd District; and Levander "Van" Smith Jr., who is an at-large candidate running for Circuit Court judge of Cook County.

Mejia-Beal is running against Republican Amy L. Grant in the general election next November; currently, no other Democrats are running against him in the primary.

Smith, an Oak Park resident, brings 26 years legal service to the bench, focusing most of his career fighting to protect children and families.

Mejia-Beal and Smith are both Victory Fund runoff candidates. Incumbent candidates getting the group's backing include Arizona state Rep. Cesar Chavez, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota), U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), Maine state Rep. Ryan Fecteau and California state Assemblyman Evan Low, among others.

A Windy City Times interview with Mejia-Beal is at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Gay-man-talks-about-running-for-state-rep/66566.html .

Full LGBTQ Victory Fund press release:

Washington, DC — Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed 39 openly LGBTQ candidates for 2019 and 2020 races — including three incumbent members of Congress.

The list includes Levander "Van" Smith, Jr. for Illinois Circuit Court Judge of Cook County, At-Large, and Ken Meija-Beal, Illinois House of Representatives, District 42.

More openly LGBTQ candidates will run for office in 2020 than in any previous election year, surpassing the more than 700 candidates who ran in the "Rainbow Wave" of 2018. Victory Fund has endorsed 66 LGBTQ candidates for 2020 so far.

Among the many opportunities for 2020 is increasing LGBTQ representation in state legislatures throughout the country. Victory Fund endorsed six candidates for the Florida state legislature today, including state Representative Shevrin Jones, who is running to become the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Florida state Senate. Representation in the state legislature would double from three members to six if the endorsed candidates are victorious in 2020.

Victory Fund also endorsed two non-incumbent candidates for the Texas House of Representatives: Ann Johnson and Eric Holguin. Along with Texas state House candidate Eliz Markowitz — who Victory Fund endorsed in a special election and is now headed to a runoff in January — representation in the Texas state legislature would increase from five to nine members if all are successful. Last month Victory Fund endorsed Shawn Terry, a non-incumbent also running for the Texas state House.

View today's media releases about the Texas state legislative candidates or the Florida state legislative candidates.

"An unprecedented number of LGBTQ people will run for office in 2020 — potentially making the Rainbow Wave of 2018 look more like a ripple," said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. "In 2020, we will endorse more candidates than at any time in our 28-year history, with opportunities to dramatically increase LGBTQ representation in state legislatures and elect a historic number of LGBTQ people to Congress. We have out LGBTQ candidates running in parts of the country where none have run before, transforming perceptions of LGBTQ people in these communities. This coming year we will build LGBTQ political power like never before — and these 39 newly endorsed candidates are the backbone are the ones who will make it happen."

The complete list of candidate endorsements announced today is below:

2019 Runoff Candidate Endorsements:

Kurtis Purtee

, Savannah ( GA ) City Council, District 6, Runoff: 12/3/19

Evangeline Beechler, Caldwell City ( ID ) Council, Seat 6, Runoff: 12/3/19

2020 General Candidate Endorsements:

Justin Bramhall, Kentucky House of Representatives, District 79, Primary: 5/12/20 General: 11/3/20

Peter Burgelis, Milwaukee ( WI ) Common Council, District 11, Primary: 2/18/20 General: 4/7/20

Gabriela De Jesus, Florida House of Representatives, District 116, Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20

Laurie Eiserloh, Travis County ( TX ) Attorney, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Javier Estevez, Florida House of Representatives, District 105, Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20

Eric Holguin, Texas House of Representatives, District 32, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Ann Johnson, Texas House of Representatives, District 134, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Shevrin Jones, Florida State Senate, District 35, Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20

Ricky Junquera, Florida House of Representatives, District 118, Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20

Terra Lawson-Remer, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, District 3, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Ken Meija-Beal, Illinois House of Representatives, District 42, Primary: 3/17/20 General: 11/3/20

Levander "Van" Smith, Jr., Circuit Court Judge of Cook County ( IL ), At-Large, Primary 3/17/20 General: 11/3/20

Marque Snow, Nebraska Legislature, District 9, Primary: 5/12/20 General: 11/3/20

Phillip Westry, Baltimore City Council, District 12, Primary: 4/28/20 General: 11/3/20

2020 Incumbent Candidate Endorsements:

Jasmine Beach-Ferrara,Buncombe County ( NC ) Commission, District 1

, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Lisa Bunker, New Hampshire House of Representatives, Rockingham District 18 Primary: 9/8/20 General: 11/3/20

Cesar Chavez, Arizona House of Representatives, District 29, Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20

Daniel Corona, Mayor of West Wendover ( NV ), General: 11/3/20

Angie Craig, US House of Representatives, MN-2, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Sharice Davids, US House of Representatives, KS-3, Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20

Ryan Fecteau, Maine House of Representatives, District 11, Primary: 6/9/20 General: 11/3/20

Steven Glassman, Fort Lauderdale ( FL ) Commissioner, District 2, General: 11/3/20

Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida House of Representatives, District 49, Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20

Brad Hoylman, New York State Senate, District 27, Primary: 6/23/20 General: 11/3/20

Celia Israel, Texas House of Representatives, District 50, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Steven Kirkland, Judge, 334th District Court ( TX ), Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Rebecca Kislak, Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 4, Primary: 9/15/20 General: 11/3/20

Evan Low, California State Assembly, District 28, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Chris Pappas, US House of Representatives, NH-1, Primary: 2/11/20 General: 11/3/20

Devon Reese, Reno City ( NV ) Council, At-Large, Primary: 6/9/20 General: 11/3/20

Benjamin Reynolds, Johnson City Village ( NY ) Board, General: 11/3/20

Susan Ruiz, Kansas House of Representatives, District 23, Primary: 8/4/20 General: 11/3/20

Jennifer Smith, Criminal Court Division IV, 20th Judicial District ( TN ), Primary: 3/3/20 General: 8/6/20

Brianna Titone, Colorado House of Representatives, District 27, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/5/20

Jennifer Webb, Florida House of Representatives, District 69 Primary: 8/18/20 General: 11/3/20

Scott Wiener, California State Senate, District 11, Primary: 3/3/20 General: 11/3/20

Les Zendle, Desert ( CA ) Healthcare District Director General: 11/3/20

More information about the candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.

—From a LGBTQ Victory Fund press release

LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America's politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.

victoryfund.org .


This article shared 4088 times since Tue Nov 26, 2019
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill
2024-03-27
On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margin—a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...


Gay News

Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event
2024-03-25
Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...


Gay News

Wyoming is latest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors
2024-03-24
On March 22, Wyoming became the latest state to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, The Hill noted. In doing so, it joined 23 other states that passed laws restricting or banning the treatment. Legislators in both ...


Gay News

Family of 2004 murder victim holds event in Lake View; reward announced
2024-03-24
The year 2004, for the family and friends of Lake View resident Kevin Clewer, will forever be marked by tragedy. On March 24 of that year, Clewer, 31, was found in his apartment at 3444 N. Elaine Pl.; he was the ...


Gay News

Chicago alder proposes renaming street after Obama
2024-03-22
Openly gay Black Chicago Ald. Lamont Robinson has proposed renaming Columbus Drive after former U.S. President and city resident Barack Obama, media outlets noted. The street stretches through the Loop from East Grand Avenue to DuSable ...


Gay News

No charges filed in Nex Benedict fight; campaigns call for Walters' removal
2024-03-22
In Oklahoma, Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler announced that no charges will be filed in connection with the fight that happened the day before transgender, nonbinary high school student Nex Benedict died by suicide, NBC ...


Gay News

Congressional Equality Caucus on FY24 bills passing the house
2024-03-22
--From a press release - WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), released the following statement after the House successfully passed the final funding bills for Fiscal Year ...


Gay News

WORLD Uganda items, HIV report, Mandela, Liechtenstein, foreign minister weds
2024-03-21
It turned out that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator Jay Gilliam traveled to Uganda on Feb. 19-27, per The Washington Blade. He visited the capital of Kampala and the nearby city of ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist
2024-03-21
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ candidates Marcelino Garcia, Precious Brady Davis win primary elections to keep MWRD seats
2024-03-21
Marcelino Garcia and Precious Brady-Davis, the two openly LGBTQ+ incumbents in the race to keep their seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), won their primary elections and will move on to the general this ...


Gay News

Small LGBTQ+ candidate pool nevertheless scores some important victories March 19
2024-03-20
Relatively few openly LGBTQ+ candidates were running in the March 19 Illinois Primary Election. But there were some significant contests in play at the local, state and federal levels. Openly gay Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) ...


Gay News

Gay Irish prime minister to step down
2024-03-20
In a surprise move, openly gay Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar has announced his resignation, citing "personal and political, but mainly political reasons," according to CNN. Varadkar said he felt he was no longer ...


Gay News

Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council sets a new course
2024-03-18
Chicago's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council held its first meeting of the calendar year on Feb. 28 at City Hall in the Loop under the leadership of the recently appointed chair Jin-Soo Huh. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Council is ...


Gay News

WORLD Leaked messages, Panama action, author dies at 32, Japan court, out athletes
2024-03-15
Hundreds of messages from an internal chat board for an international group of transgender health professionals were leaked in a report and framed as revealing serious health risks associated with gender-affirming care, including cancer, according to ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Missouri measure, HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, judge, Texas schools
2024-03-15
In Missouri, a newly proposed law could charge teachers and counselors with a felony and require them to register as sex offenders if they're found guilty of supporting transgender students who are socially transitioning, CNN noted. ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.