Rainbow Wave 2020: LGBTQ+ Candidates Who Won on Election Night

It looks like the latest rainbow wave actually happened. After a history-making out LGBTQ+ candidates appeared on ballots this year (570 of those were on ballots this week) over 160 of them have secured victories.

"With the presidential race up in the air, it is admittedly tough to focus on the positive,"Annise Parker, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said in a statement. Victory Fund endorsed many of the candidates. "Yet last night LGBTQ candidates made historic inroads in state legislatures across the country, winning in states and chambers where we never have before."

Here are a selection of those wins including the history-making ones, as well as a few highlights of the reelections.

Todd Gloria- San Diego Mayor

San Diego has elected their first ever out LGBTQ+ mayor in gay Democratic state assemblyman Todd Gloria. Gloria had previously served a short term as the city's interim mayor in late 2013 through early 2014, following then mayor Bob Filner's resignation because of sexual harassment accusations. Gloria, a member of the Tlingit-Haida tribe who also has Filipino and Puerto Rican ancestry, is also the first person of color to be elected mayor of the city.

Christy Holstege- Palm Springs Mayor

Holstege was re-elected to the Palm Springs City Council, which means she's poised to become the first out bisexual mayor in the country. Instead of directly electing a mayor, Palm Springs rotates the position among City Council members. With her win, Holstege also becomes the city's first female mayor.

Holstege, who represents the city's 4th District, won the position against two opponents who used biphobic attacks to try to defeat her. Since she is married to a man and pregnant, her opponents claimed she was pretended to be part of the LGBTQ+ community to get votes.

Sarah McBride - Delaware State Senate

McBride became the first out trans person ever elected to a state senate seat in the U.S. tonight.

"Sarah's overwhelming victory is a powerful testament to the growing influence of transgender leaders in our politics and gives hope to countless trans people looking toward a brighter future," Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, said in a statement. "Throughout this election cycle, Donald Trump and other cynical politicians attempted to use trans people as a political weapon, believing they could gain popularity by stoking fear and hate. For Sarah to shatter a lavender ceiling in such a polarizing year is a powerful reminder that voters are increasingly rejecting the politics of bigotry in favor of candidates who stand for fairness and equality. Her victory will inspire more trans people to follow in her footsteps and run for public office."

McBride has had quite the high profile career. She was the first out trans person to ever work at the White House when she interned there. She also was the first trans person to speak at a national political convention in 2016.

Tiara Mack — Rhode Island State Senate

With her election, activist and educator Tiara Mack is the first Black LGBTQ+ person to serve in Rhode Island's state legislature. A frmer sex-ed teacher, she wil now represent District 6 in the State Senate.

Shevrin Jones - Florida State Senator

Jones is the first out LGBTQ+ person ever to be elected to the upper chamber when he won his race for the Florida state Senate. A preacher's son, Jones previously served in Florida's House of Representatives, a seat he won in 2012. "Shevrin shattered a long-standing political barrier for LGBTQ candidates in Florida and his victory will resonate far beyond the boundaries of his state," said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. "Shevrin will be one of just two Black gay men serving in state senates and his victory is certain to inspire more Black LGBTQ leaders to step up and run themselves. The politics of division and hatred failed in this race and gave way to a government that is more representative of the people it serves."

Ritchie Torres - U.S. Representative of New York

Torres became the first gay LGBTQ+ Afro-Latinx member of Congress when he won a seat in the U.S. House representing New York's 14th Congressional District. "Most would have thought New York City's first LGBTQ member of Congress would be from Chelsea or Greenwich Village or Hell's Kitchen, but the Bronx beat them to it," said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. "As our nation attempts to tackle systemic racism, police reform and healthcare disparities, Ritchie's lived experience as an out LGBTQ Afro-Latinx man will bring an essential perspective to Capitol Hill. Ritchie's election gives hope at a time when many Americans desperately need it. He will become a role model for LGBTQ youth in the Bronx and beyond." This isn't the first time Torres has made history. In 2013, at age 25, he became the youngest elected official in New York City when he won a seat in the city council. He also became the first member of the LGBTQ+ community elected from the Bronx in that same election.

Jabari Brisport — New York State Senate

The self-described socialist is the first Black LGBTQ+ member of the New York State legislature.

Taylor Small - Vermont State House

Small became the first out trans person to be elected to the Vermont state legislature.

"The impact of Taylor's groundbreaking victory cannot be overstated," Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, which endorsed Small, said in a statement. "There are so few transgender people in elected office that nearly every win is a historic one, yet with each barrier broken comes more trans people inspired to do the same. Even pro-equality states like Vermont need trans voices in government to ensure the priorities and concerns of the community are heard. Taylor will bring that perspective to the state House and Vermont can be a leader on trans equality because of it."

Torrey Harris - Tennessee State House

Harris has now become the first out LGBTQ+ member of the Tennessee state legislature after being elected to the State House.

Roger Montoya - New Mexico's State House

Montoya was an artist and activist before his successful campaign to represent House District 40 in New Mexico. The election of the politician, who is living with HIV, to office makes him the first out LGBTQ+ of the state's house.

Mondaire Jones - U.S. House of Representatives for New York

Jones became one of the first Black LGBTQ+ members of Congress in American history with his election.

Stephanie Byers — Kansas State House

Byers being elected to the Kansas state House makes her the first out trans person of color ever to be elected to a state legislature in the U.S.

"Stephanie shattered a lavender ceiling in Kansas and its impact will reverberate well beyond the borders of the state," Mayor Annise Parker, President and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund said in a release. Byers was preceded by state representatives Susan Ruiz and Brandon Woodard, who were other LGBTQ+ politicians in Kansas state legislature.

Eddie Mannis — Tennessee State House

Mannis, a Republican, joins Torrey Harris in making history with their elections to the Tennessee state House. The pair are the first out LGBTQ+ people ever elected to the state's legislature.

Mauree Turner — Oklahoma State House

Turner has notched history in a few ways. They have become the first nonbinary state legislator having won a seat in Oklahoma's House of Representatives. They are also the first Muslim to serve in the state's legislature.

Kim Jackson - Georgia State Senator

Kim Jackson became the first LGBTQ+ person elected to Georgia state Senate. There are currently only three Black LGBTQ+ women state senators in the entire country. "Kim shattered a lavender ceiling and is paving the way for a state government that is more representative of the people it serves," said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. "The energy and enthusiasm generated for Kim's race will inevitably encourage more LGBTQ women and people of color to recognize their own viability and make the decision to run. As an Episcopal priest, Kim can diffuse legislators who claim religion as the reason they oppose equality and will make clear that many LGBTQ people are of faith too. While Georgia lags nearly every state in the nation in protections for LGBTQ people, Kim's victory ensures our community has a voice at the table and gives hope that more are on the way."

Michele Reyner - Florida State House

After building a career as a widely respected civil rights attorney and social justice advocate, Reyner has become the first Black queer woman elected to the Florida legislature.

Ana Irma Rivera Lassén — Puerto Rico State Senate

Though religious conservatism is a halmark of Puerto Rican politics, Rivera Lassen has made history being the first out politician elected on the island.

David Ortiz — Colorado's State House

Military veteran David Ortiz became the first out bisexual lawmaker in Colorado when he was elected to represent the 38th district in the state's House.

Alex Lee — California State Assembly

Lee is now the first out bisexual member of the California state legislature, and will represent District 25.

Jessica Benham — Pennsylvania State House Representative

Benham, who is bisexual, won a seat as a state representative in Pennsylvania, making her the first out LGBTQ+ woman to hold office in the state. She also becomes one of the few autistic lawmakers at the state level. Benham represents House District 36.

Adrian Tam- Hawaii State House Representative

Tam won 63 percent of the vote in his election, making him the only out LGBTQ+ member of Hawaii's House of Representatives. The 28 year-old Tam represents Hawaii's 22nd District, which includes Waikiki, Ala Moana, and Kakaako on Oahu. The race drew national attention because Tam's opponent in the race was Nick Ochs, a member of the far right extremist group The Proud Boys.

Sharice Davids - U.S. House of Representatives for Kansas

Davids made history already. Back in 2018 she became the first out LGBTQ+ Native American elected to Congress. Tonight she extended that legacy by getting re-elected, ensuring she will continue representing Kansas's 3rd district.

Brianna Titone - Colorado's State House

Titone won her re-election campaign to Colorado's House. When she was first elected in 2018, she was the first out trans lawmaker in the state's house.

Ryan Fecteau - Maine State House

Fecteau, who was once the youngest out gay state representative in the U.S., won reelection and will continue serving in Maine's House.

Carlos Smith — Florida State House

After being elected as the first out LGBTQ+ Latin person in the Florida legislature in 2016, Smth has been reelected to office.

Scott Wiener — California State Senate

Wiener has been reelected to the California State Senate after helping to enact some real change over the past year.

Sam Park - Georgia State House

Park was the first out gay man elected to the Georgia State legislature in 2016, before being reelected in 2018. Now, he has been reelected again.

Ann Johnson - Texas State House

Johnson has flipped a seat in the Texas State House and will represent District 134.

Mark Takano — U.S. House of Representatives for California

Takano will continue representing California's 41st District in the United States House of Representatives for the next term.

"Thank you for once again putting your faith in me," he tweeted. "Our work continues."

David Cicilline — U.S. House of Representatives for Rhode Island

First elected to the House in 2011, Cicilline won 70 percent of the vote in his reelection.

Greg Razer — Missouri State Senate

After serving in the state's House of Representatives, Razer has landed in the Missouri state Senate.

"To the people of Kansas City, Grandview and Lee's Summit, thank you for your overwhelming support yesterday," he tweeted. "The campaign is now over and it's time to get to work - the work of rebuilding our state and ensuring our region continues to lead the way."

Brian Sims — Pennsylvania State House

Sims, who was first elected in 2012, was the first out gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania. The lawyer and LGBTQ+ civil rights activist was re-elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week. On Twitter, he thanked voters, saying "With the support and guidance of countless friends & neighbors, I'm humbled to say that I have been re-elected to the House of Representatives! Fighting for equality is the work of my life, & because of you, I can continue to do that every day in the Capitol!"

Malcolm Kenyatta — Pennsylvania State House of Representatives

In 2018, Kenyatta became the first out LGBTQ+ person of color to be nominated by a major political party for a state office in Pennsylvania. He won in a landslide and became both one of the youngest elected State Representatives in Pennsylvania and the first out gay representative of color in the legislature. This year, after getting engaged and fighting voter suppression, Kenyatta ran for reelection, to continue representing the 181st District and won.