Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC endorsed Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) to represent Minnesota in the United States Senate. Craig, who currently serves as the Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Committee, is running to replace incumbent Democratic Senator Tina Smith, who is retiring at the end of the 119th Congress.
“Equality PAC is proud to endorse Congresswoman Angie Craig for U.S. Senate because Minnesotans deserve a tireless, effective leader who puts people first—and that’s exactly who Angie is,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY). “From lowering health care and prescription drug costs to defending reproductive rights and strengthening protections for working families, Angie has delivered real results for the people of Minnesota’s Second District. She has shown up time and again for farmers, small businesses, veterans, and students—fighting to ensure that every Minnesotan, no matter where they live or who they are, has a fair shot at success. Equality PAC was proud to stand with Angie when she made history as the first openly LGBTQ Member of Congress from Minnesota, and we’ve been with her every step of the way as she’s built a reputation as one of the hardest-working members of the House. As she steps up to run for the U.S. Senate, Equality PAC is ready to do what we do best: mobilize the resources, grassroots energy, and national support she needs to win. Angie Craig is a proven fighter, and we are confident she will bring that same grit and commitment to the U.S. Senate on behalf of all Minnesotans.”
First elected to the House in 2018, Craig is the first openly LGBTQ mother and grandmother ever elected to Congress. She is also the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from Minnesota. Craig was raised by a single mom and grew up in a mobile home park. She watched her mom work hard and complete her teaching degree over nine years while raising three kids with the help of her grandmother — who herself worked in a union shoe factory well into her 70s.
Like her mom, Craig worked two jobs and took out a little in student loans to put herself through state college. Craig started her career as a newspaper reporter and worked her way up over 20 years in business to lead a workforce of 16,000 for a major Minnesota manufacturer.
During her time in Congress, Craig has prioritized listening to the concerns of the citizens she represents and working across the aisle to create stronger communities and an economy that works for every Minnesotan. She has fought to make healthcare more affordable for Minnesota families by authoring and passing the State Health Care Premium Reduction Act to lower the cost of health insurance in the individual marketplace. She helped introduce legislation that would empower Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap out of pocket costs for folks on Medicare Part D. In addition, Angie has worked across the aisle to expand access to mental health care and telehealth services, particularly for rural communities.
Equality PAC’s mission is simple: to elect more LGBTQ+ persons to Congress — individuals who will have a seat at the table, impact the debate, and humanize the LGBTQ community’s concerns. All the funds we raise are used to elect and re-elect LGBTQ persons to Congress and secondarily support strong LGBTQ community allies who will proudly and unapologetically stand with us in the fight to pass the Equality Act and equal protection under our nation’s laws.
In the short time that Equality PAC has existed, Equality PAC has played an unmatched role in making history for the LGBTQ community, electing LGBTQ leaders at the federal level such as current House Members Sharice Davis (Kansas); Ritchie Torres (New York); Becca Balint (Vermont); Robert Garcia (California); Eric Sorensen (Illinois); Angie Craig (Minnesota); and Chris Pappas (New Hampshire). And in 2024, Equality PAC helped elect Julie Johnson (Texas); Emily Randall (Washington); and Sarah McBride (Delaware).
Equality PAC has been instrumental in winning key races that have determined control of Congress because we know that without pro-Equality majorities, the progress our community has made and the civil rights and equal protections we have fought so hard for, and are still fighting for every day, remain in jeopardy.
