The outcomes are now available, and the LGBTQ+ community emerged as the major winner of Super Tuesday. Across the nation, queer candidates mobilized voters.
From Texas to Vermont, voters dismissed the GOP’s negative remarks about LGBTQ+ individuals and instead promoted them as potential political leaders. From a probable new member of Congress in Texas to “the first openly queer mayor in the state of Vermont,” queer candidates made a strong impact at the ballot box.
Here are some of the remarkable winners.
Julie Johnson, a congressional candidate from Texas
Julie Johnson (D), a State Representative, secured victory in her primary race and will compete against the winner of a Republican runoff in May. While Johnson can build her campaign and raise funds for the general election, her potential opponent will need to run against another Republican, spending campaign money to do so. The district is also heavily Democratic, making it probable for Johnson to become the first openly gay member of Congress from a Southern state.
Will Rollins, a congressional candidate from California
Rollins was the Democratic candidate for the district covering Palm Springs in the previous election, narrowly losing to Rep. Ken Calvert (R). Calvert, a 15-term incumbent, has been repeatedly labeled as the most corrupt member of Congress, and the new district boundaries include the gay community. Rollins will achieve victory this year if he can boost turnout in Palm Springs.
Jennifer Tran, a congressional candidate from California
Tran will compete against fellow Democrat Lateefah Simon to succeed LGBTQ+ supporter Barbara Lee in the San Francisco area. Lee vacated the seat in order to campaign for the former Senate seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D). The winner will secure the seat under California’s election laws that pit the top two vote-getters against each other in the general election. Tran identifies as queer.
Lauren Ashley Simmons, a candidate for the Texas state house
Simmons, a Black queer woman, has the opportunity to remove a Democrat who voted for the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth from office. A runoff election will determine the winner.
Lisa Middleton, a candidate for the California state senate
Middleton, a city councilor in Palm Springs, would become California’s first transgender state legislator if she wins the election against Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh.
Molly Cook, a candidate for the Texas state senate
As an emergency room nurse, Cook advanced to a run-off election against fellow Democrat Jarvis Johnson. The winner will go up against Republican Joseph Trahan in the race to represent the Houston area in the state senate.
Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, a mayoral candidate from Vermont
Burlington, Vermont, elected a lesbian and member of the Progressive Party as mayor. She will be the first woman to lead the largest city in the state. After the election, she informed the media, “I am pretty sure that I’m the first openly queer mayor in the state of Vermont.”
