Dozens of LGBTQ+ Candidates Endorsed for 2026 Races

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund backs 35 candidates across 19 states as rights face renewed challenges.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:11am

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The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has endorsed 35 LGBTQ+ candidates across 19 states for the 2026 election cycle, expanding its efforts to build LGBTQ+ political power as rights face renewed challenges. The endorsed candidates include local, state, and national races, reflecting a deliberate strategy to increase LGBTQ+ representation throughout government.

Why it matters

LGBTQ+ rights have faced increasing threats, with a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being proposed across the country. The Victory Fund's endorsements aim to counter these efforts by supporting a diverse slate of LGBTQ+ candidates who can help protect and advance LGBTQ+ equality at all levels of government.

The details

The Victory Fund's 35 endorsements bring its total for the 2026 cycle to 163 candidates nationwide. The endorsed candidates include city council members, county commissioners, state legislators, and a mayoral candidate in Reno, Nevada. Some notable endorsements include Erick Russell, the first out gay Black man elected to statewide office in Connecticut, and Precious Brady-Davis, the first Black out trans woman elected to public office in Cook County, Illinois.

  • The Victory Fund announced the 35 endorsements on Monday, April 1, 2026.
  • In December 2025, the Victory Fund's International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference featured remarks from former President Joe Biden on the 'historic leadership' of his administration on LGBTQ+ equality.

The players

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund

A political action committee that works to elect LGBTQ+ candidates to public office, with the goal of building LGBTQ+ political power.

Evan Low

A Victory Fund spokesperson who has described the upcoming elections as a 'stress test' for LGBTQ+ political power, amid a climate of fear and an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Erick Russell

The first out gay Black man elected to statewide office in the United States, as the State Treasurer of Connecticut.

Precious Brady-Davis

The first Black out trans woman elected to public office in Cook County, Illinois, as a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Devon Reese

A Reno, Nevada city councilmember running for mayor on a platform of downtown revitalization, community policing, and addressing the high cost of living.

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What they’re saying

“The coming elections are a stress test for LGBTQ+ political power, unfolding amid a climate of fear, distortion, and an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.”

— Evan Low, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund spokesperson

“We face 'laser-focused' efforts to 'legislate us out of existence.'”

— Evan Low, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund spokesperson

What’s next

The Victory Fund will continue to support its endorsed candidates through the 2026 election cycle, providing resources and strategic guidance to help them win their races and increase LGBTQ+ representation in government.

The takeaway

The Victory Fund's endorsements demonstrate a concerted effort to build LGBTQ+ political power at all levels of government, as the community faces renewed threats to its rights and hard-won progress. The diverse slate of candidates reflects the Victory Fund's long-term strategy to create a pipeline of LGBTQ+ leaders, ensuring the community's voice is heard and its interests are protected.