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Gay candidates win primaries in California, Nevada, Maine

Gay candidates win primaries in California, Nevada, Maine

Nevada and Maine could see the number of openly gay state lawmakers triple after Victory Fund-endorsed candidates advanced in primary elections this week.

In Maine House primaries, Andrew McLean and Terry Morrison were unopposed, while Matt Moonen (pictured) convincingly beat his opponent. All three Democrats are running in Democratic-performing districts.

Matt Moonen

In Nevada, David Parks was unopposed in his primary for reelection to the State Senate. Andrew Martin and James Healey won their Democratic primaries for seats in the Nevada Assembly.

“These wins are great news for LGBT Mainers and Nevadans,” said Tiffany Muller, vice president for political affairs at the Victory Fund. ”Each state is now a step closer to strengthening LGBT representation in their state legislatures.”

In another big win for LGBT candidates, an out lesbian beat an incumbent state senator in Nevada.

Patricia Spearman will become Nevada’s first and only openly LGBT woman elected to the state legislature, as she faces no Republican opponent this fall. She will also be one of just a handful of openly LGBT African Americans elected to state legislatures in the U.S.

In California, nine LGBT state legislative candidates won their primaries this week, setting it up to make history in November by electing the largest LGBT caucus ever.

“Congratulations to all of our legislative candidates in California who won their primaries last night,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “Their victories in November will give LGBT Californians a powerful, authentic voice in the Capitol and send a message across the country that LGBT people can be leaders and succeed.”

Cathleen Galgiani

California and Maryland both currently have eight openly LGBT state legislators.

While this is Christine Kehoe’s last year in the California State Senate due to term limits, the election of Susan Eggman (State Assembly, District 13) and Luis Lopez (State Assembly, District 51) in November would make California’s LGBT Caucus the largest ever.

Also victorious in their California state legislative primaries last night were incumbents Tom Ammiano (State Assembly, District 17), Toni Atkins (State Assembly, District 78), Richard Gordon (State Assembly, District 24), Ricardo Lara (State Senate, District 33), Mark Leno (State Senate, District 11), John A. Pérez (State Assembly, District 53), and Cathleen Galgiani (pictured), who is currently in the State Assembly and running for State Senate, District 5.

Elsewhere in California, Steve Hansen advanced through his primary and is on track to become the first openly LGBT member of the Sacramento City Council.

In San Diego, Todd Gloria won a decisive primary for a seat on the San Diego City Council and Dave Roberts will advance to the general election for a seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

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