Washington, DC – Openly LGBTQ Congressional candidate Sharice Davids defeated U.S. Representative David Yoder tonight, a four-term incumbent and ally of Donald Trump in a seat considered critical to Democratic efforts to take back the U.S. House. The victory made history, with Davids becoming the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the U.S. Congress from Kansas and the first Native American woman ever elected to the body. Davids was a standout star in the Rainbow Wave of LGBTQ candidates that ran for office across the nation this year.
LGBTQ Victory Fund’s President & CEO Annise Parker – the first openly LGBTQ person ever elected mayor of a major American city (Houston) – was with Davids in Kansas when her victory was announced. She is available for interviews. Victory Fund made Davids one of its “Game Changer” candidates, raised her profile nationally, held fundraisers, directly contributed $6500, and raised more than $24,000 for her campaign.
“Tonight Kansas voters gave the boot to a Trump ally and replaced him with a groundbreaking LGBTQ leader who spoke her truth throughout the campaign,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Sharice won the hearts of voters by putting forward a positive and solutions-oriented agenda while explaining how her experiences as a Native American LGBTQ woman influenced her policy positions and beliefs. When she earned her law school degree from Cornell, she passed on high-paying corporate jobs and instead worked on economic development issues, and went to live and work on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This authenticity and commitment to public service resonated with Kansans and will also resonate with lawmakers on Capitol Hill during this next session, when Sharice and other LGBTQ members of Congress will push for legislation that advances equality. Sharice’s victory tonight will become a model for other LGBTQ leaders considering a run for office in red states or districts.”
Thirteen LGBTQ women received a major party nomination for a Congressional seat this year, more than at any other time in U.S. history.
Live Election Night Results: Victory Fund is live-tracking the election results for 225 of its openly LGBTQ endorsed candidates. The latest updates can be found at victoryfund.org/results2018.
Rainbow Wave by the Numbers: LGBTQ Victory Fund released several reports on the unprecedented Rainbow Wave of openly LGBTQ candidates who ran for office during the 2018 election cycle, including one reporting on the total number of candidates who ran, another looking at the total number of candidates by state, and one analyzing Congressional and gubernatorial nominees.
