2020 is shaping up to be the mother of all election years, and not just because there is a political awakening happening all across the nation. The sheer number of LGBTQ candidates running for office at all levels of government is unprecedented in American history.
With literally hundreds of queer candidates on ballots and even more working behind the scenes, it would be impossible to include them all in our Pride 50 roundup. So we've done our best to select a mix of people to highlight, knowing full well that there are many, many others who are just as deserving and worthy of honor this pride season.
Regardless of what happens in November, these politicos are taking up the challenge to run for office, raise funds, and to organize and strategize behind the scenes, all helping to pave the way for the future of equality.
2. Tammy Baldwin
Tammy Baldwin is the junior Senator from Wisconsin whose electoral success has been marked with a number of historic firsts.
In 1993, she became the first openly lesbian member of the Wisconsin Assembly. During her six-year tenure, she took on President Clinton’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy and proposed legalizing same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships in Wisconsin.
In 1998, Baldwin was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first woman elected to Congress from Wisconsin, as well as the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the House of Representatives, and the first open lesbian elected to Congress.
In 2012, she achieved yet another first when she became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the U.S. Senate. That year, she was quoted by Time magazine as saying “I didn’t run to make history” on her historic win despite having done just that. It is her combination of progressive politics and human decency that makes her the most popular politician in a swing state. In 2018, she was re-elected to a second term with over 55% of the vote, handily defeating her Republican opponent by 11 points despite a generally divided electorate.
To top it off, she’s on the shortlist of potential VP picks for Joe Biden. Now that would be the first of all firsts.
Baldwin said in 2019:
We need strong, articulate, bright, passionate people in all levels of government. I started on the county board and served at the state level and now I’m humbled to serve at the national level, but our unique voices matter at all levels.
Neoprene
Fun fact about Lori. She has 360 degree vision like a Chameleon. Don’t even THINK about trying to sneak up on her!
jennifer.white530
Too bad Lori Lightfoot cannot do anything to stop the black on black murders in Chicago. Would be nice if ALL Black Lives Mattered.
QNetter
What about the white-on-white murders? Fun fact: most people who are murdered are murdered by people they know, and next most common, people in their communities. Given the fact that the US is still strongly segregated, X-on-X murders is typical. As is your whataboutism.
Manray
You shallow stupid woman. Is Lori supposed to personally disarm them? Shut up, She’s mayor of Chicago and you’re some tired shallow lesbian who is a nobody. Loser.
Hdtex
Candidate Trump promised he would solve the crime problem in his first 30 days. WHAT HAPPENED???
Are you this stupid IRL?
jennifer.white530
94% of African American murders in the USA are at the hands of other blacks. These lives do not matter to the Black Lives Matter movement because it does not fit the Narrative of the Democratic party.
Kangol2
Liar. Black politicians, community activists and regular people decry the senseless murders of Black people by other Black people. Look it up before you spout more racist claptrap. Now, what about white on white murders, like that deranged monster whose two children were chopped up into pieces. Did you speak out about that? About the psychos who go on murderous rampages, like the one in Las Vegas, slaughtering countless people? Or the one who killed all those people in the Jewish synagogue? Do you speak out about white on white crime, including the massacres?
Hdtex
Sadly, Jennifer shows what a steaming pile of pig feces she really is.
Manray
Dumb republicam idiot. Shut up. You sound like a low IQ asshole.
jennifer.white530
Kangol2, you are clueless. We are talking about Black Lives Matter and how only selected black lives are allowed to be discussed. DO NOT try to change the subject about mass shootings which is a totally different problem in America. You should moved to South Chicago and keep voting Democrat if you think their policies are the best!.
GayEGO
Congratulations to Mayor Lori Lightfoot. We have come a long way baby! I was a teenager when Boise Idaho sent professors to prison just for the idea they were gay. A DVD was created called “The Fall of ’55” that explains what happened, and Boise is embarrassed about it.
Hdtex
Fun fact: “jennifer.white530” is a racist, homophobic, steaming sack of human garbage. Ban this puss oozing gash from Queerty.