Washington, DC – Equality PAC released the following statement announcing that Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-VT) and Congresswoman Julie Johnson (D-TX) have been elected as Vice Chairs of Equality PAC. Balint and Johnson will work alongside Equality PAC Co-Chairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) to travel the country fundraising for the PAC, recruiting and mentoring LGBTQ candidates, and working to elect House candidates that will help build a new Pro-Equality Majority in Congress in the 2026 midterms.
“We are thrilled to welcome Becca and Julie to Equality PAC’s leadership team as we begin to assemble the resources we need to win back the House in 2026,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY). “Both Becca and Julie represent some of Equality PAC’s greatest success stories. When Becca first ran in 2022, she was polling in the single digits against a well-known statewide officeholder. Equality PAC knew it would be an uphill battle, but we believed in Becca and her message. Against all odds, Becca won her primary and we helped elect the first woman and openly LGBTQ person to represent Vermont at the federal level. When Julie announced her candidacy to represent Texas’ 32ndCongressional District, she entered a crowded primary field with well-funded candidates. But because of her hard work and Equality PAC’s investment in her race, Julie emerged at the top of the field, avoiding a costly runoff election by just a few hundred votes. Becca and Julie know how to win tough races and how to talk to voters about why equality and electing strong LGBTQ candidates and allies is so important. We look forward to working with them to build a new Pro-Equality Majority in 2026.”
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.
