Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC released the following statement urging voters in Texas and California to support Equality PAC’s endorsed candidates on Tuesday, March 5th.
In Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, State Representative Julie Johnson is running to succeed Congressman Colin Allred who is retiring to run for Senate. When elected, Julie will be the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from the South.
In California’s 16th Congressional District, State Assemblymember Evan Low is running to succeed Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, who is retiring at the end of the 118th Congress. In California’s 41st Congressional District, Will Rollins is running to secure a spot to challenge anti-LGBTQ Republican incumbent Ken Calvert. Lastly, in California’s 42nd District, Congressman Robert Garcia is running for re-election to a second term.
“Today, voters across two very important states will get the first opportunity to help build our new pro-equality majority in the House,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY). “Julie, Evan, Will, and Robert are strong candidates that represent the best of the many different facets of our community. With each of these candidates, voters have the chance to make history and create an even bigger rainbow wave in 2024. And with Julie, we can elect our first LGBTQ member from the South, giving a region that has been without LGBTQ representation a voice. We urge every voter in these districts to reject hate and division and support our endorsed candidates who will unequivocally advocate for LGBTQ communities in every part of the nation.”
In addition to these races, Equality PAC Co-Chair Ranking Member Mark Takano is running for re-election in California’s 39th Congressional District.
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), as well as former House Member Mondaire Jones (New York). 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.
