Here The '12 Races To Watch' Among 180 LGBT Candidates

Details: Published on Friday, 19 October 2012 00:10; Written by E-Li

election

Who are the principal LGBT candidates to follow? The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today reveals its list of 12 openly LGBT candidates involved in runs for political office this year.

On a total of 180 candidates for various positions (yes, 180!), Victory Fund decided to follow particularly 12 candidates without forgetting others.

"We’re going to be watching every single race closely, so it’s very hard to choose just a dozen," said Tiffany Muller, Victory’s vice president for political operations. "While each of these races are important for different reasons, they represent what a truly groundbreaking year this has been for LGBT politics. These 12 are expected to be close, and we’ll be fighting all the way up until Election Day," Muller said.

Many victories are possible this year and we will of course follow that on Lezbelib in order to keep you informed of the results.

So here the 12 "Races to Watch" :

Tammy Baldwin – U.S. Senate (Wisconsin) – Would be the first openly LGBT American in the U.S. Senate. Recently, a poll showed Baldwin in the lead for the seat of Senator in Wisconsin (see our article: Tammy Baldwin Is In The Lead For Wisconsin Senator Seat).

Josh Boschee – North Dakota House of Representatives – Could become the first out member of the N.D. legislature.
Kate Brown – Oregon Secretary of State – Second highest-ranking elected official in the state.
David Cicilline – U.S. House (RI1) – Running for his first reelection to Congress in a tight race.
Sean Patrick Maloney – U.S. House (NY18) – Would be the first openly LGBT member of Congress from N.Y.
Marie Mayor – Delaware House – Could become the first out state legislator in Delaware.
Tim Brown – Ohio House of Representatives – Tim would become the only openly LGBT Republican state lawmaker in the U.S.
Kyrsten Sinema – U.S. House (AZ9) – Would the first out bisexual elected to Congress. Recently, she won the Congressional Primary (see ou article: Krysten Sinema Won Arizona Congressional Primary) and talk on MSNBC about women's right (see: Openly Bisexual Congressional Candidate Krysten Sinema Talks About Women's Right).
Stephen Skinner – West Virginia House of Representatives – Could become the first openly LGBT state lawmaker in W.V.
Andy Staton – Delaware Senate – Could become the first out state legislator in Delaware.
Mark Takano – U.S. House (CA41) – Could become the first openly LGBT person of color in Congress.