HISTORY
Did you know?
The LGBTQ electorate is larger, more engaged, and more influential than ever. In the 2026 midterm elections, 10% of the electorate will identify as LGBTQ, with 92% of LGBTQ people saying they will vote in the midterm elections. That represents millions of voters nationwide — making the LGBTQ community a decisive force in close races across the country.
LGBTQ Voters Will Be Critical to Building a Pro-Equality Majority in 2026
As Equality PAC works to elect more openly LGBTQ leaders and pro-equality allies to Congress, one thing is clear: LGBTQ voters will play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.
The LGBTQ community is one of the fastest growing and most politically engaged constituencies in the country. New polling shows that 92% of LGBTQ registered voters say they will definitely vote in the 2026 midterms, compared to just 68% of non-LGBTQ voters. Additionally, 91% report voting in the 2022 midterm elections and 82% say they vote in all or nearly all elections. These numbers underscore what Equality PAC has long known: LGBTQ voters do not sit on the sidelines. They organize, mobilize, and show up when the stakes are high.
The importance of this electorate extends far beyond turnout. LGBTQ voters are expected to account for nearly 10% of the 2026 electorate, making them a critical voting bloc in the battleground districts and states that will determine control of the House of Representatives. In many competitive races, the number of LGBTQ voters exceeds the margin of victory, giving the community a unique opportunity to shape the future of Congress.
For Equality PAC, these numbers represent more than political influence—they represent the opportunity to continue building a Congress that reflects the diversity of America. Since its founding, Equality PAC has worked to elect openly LGBTQ candidates and pro-equality champions who understand the challenges facing working families, support affordable health care, defend fundamental freedoms, and fight for equal opportunity for all Americans.
The 2026 election comes at a pivotal moment for LGBTQ representation. While the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials has reached historic highs, LGBTQ Americans remain significantly underrepresented at every level of government. Increasing representation is not simply about electing more LGBTQ candidates; it is about ensuring that Congress includes leaders with the lived experiences necessary to address the issues impacting LGBTQ communities and working families alike.
Importantly, LGBTQ voters are not single-issue voters. Recent research shows that their top concerns include government accountability, protecting democracy, lowering costs, economic stability, health care affordability, and safeguarding LGBTQ rights and freedoms. These priorities mirror the concerns of millions of Americans and demonstrate why LGBTQ candidates and pro-equality leaders are often among the strongest advocates for policies that improve everyday life for all families.
That is why Equality PAC’s mission remains so critical. By investing early in competitive races, supporting qualified LGBTQ candidates, and electing pro-equality allies across the country, Equality PAC is helping build Pro-Equality Majorities that can deliver meaningful results for the American people.
In 2026, LGBTQ voters will once again help determine the direction of our country. Their voices, their votes, and their engagement will be instrumental in electing leaders who believe in equality, opportunity, and freedom. Equality PAC is proud to stand alongside this growing electorate as we work to expand LGBTQ representation, strengthen our democracy, and build a Congress that works for everyone.
In November 2024:
- LGBTQ voters turned out — even amid unprecedented political attacks: Throughout 2024, polling showed extraordinarily high motivation among LGBTQ voters, with more than 9 in 10 registered LGBTQ Americans saying they planned to vote. Despite a hostile political environment that negatively affected many voters’ well-being, LGBTQ turnout and activism remained strong and resilient.
- LGBTQ votes helped shape outcomes up and down the ballot: In battleground districts and competitive primaries, LGBTQ voters overwhelmingly supported pro-equality candidates — helping protect frontline incumbents, advance challengers in Red2Blue districts, and secure critical victories where margins were razor-thin.
- Equality PAC helped turn LGBTQ voter power into real wins:During the 2024 cycle, Equality PAC raised and spent tens of millions of dollars to support LGBTQ candidates and Pro-Equality allies nationwide — investing early in competitive primaries and general elections to protect incumbents, boost Red2Blue contenders, and elect historic LGBTQ leaders.
Those investments led to historic breakthroughs and a record number of 13 openly LGBTQ Members of the House and Senate. We help deliver landmark victories, including:
- Julie Johnson (TX-32): the first openly LGBTQ person ever elected to Congress from Texas and the South
- Emily Randall (WA-06): the first out queer Latina elected to Congress and the first LGBTQ member of Congress from Washington state
- Sarah McBride (DE-AL): the first transgender person ever elected to the Congress
Representation is growing — and Equality PAC’s impact continues to expand. Today, there are more openly LGBTQ members of the House and Senate than at any point in history. Equality PAC’s work has helped double the number of openly LGBTQ women serving in the House while increasing representation among LGBTQ people of color — ensuring Congress better reflects the voters it serves.
The bottom line: the LGBTQ electorate is no longer emerging — it is established, mobilized, and decisive. And with sustained investment, Equality PAC will continue turning voter power into lasting progress.