US midterm elections: LGBTQ+ candidates make historic wins

It was a mixed night for the LGBTQ+ community in the US midterm elections, with some historic wins for newcomers, but also victories for Republican candidates who have already enacted anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in their states.

With a number of LGBTQ+ issues on the line, from the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill to trans inclusion in sport, voters did take to an overwhelmingly queer ballot as a record number of LGBTQ+ candidates stood for office, but much was at stake.

Here, we’ve summarised some of the biggest wins and losses for the LGBTQ+ community so far.

Win: Maura Healey has become the first out lesbian governor in US history

Maura Healey has won her bid to become the next governor of Massachusetts, making history in the process as the first woman governor and LGBTQ+ governor of the state, as well as the first-ever out lesbian governor in United States history.

Healey, a former civil rights attorney and professional basketball player, defeated Republican candidate and former state representative Geoff Diehl, who was endorsed by disgraced former president Donald Trump.

In her victory speech, Healey addressed “every little girl and every young LGBTQ person out there”, saying: “I hope tonight shows you that you can be whatever, whoever you want to be, and nothing and no one can ever get in your way except your own imagination, and that’s not going to happen.”

We did it, Massachusetts. pic.twitter.com/7JgwKxEMw8

— Maura Healey (@maura_healey) November 9, 2022

Loss: Greg Abbott, an architect of several anti-trans policies in his state, won re-election

Republican Greg Abbott won his governor race against Democrat Beto O’Rourke, shoring up the right-wing party’s control of Texas. No Democrat has won statewide office there in nearly 30 years.

Abbott previously compared medical procedures for young transgender people to “child abuse” and called on state agencies to investigate trans families.

Texas has proposed a number of bills related to trans minors in recent years. In 2021, it passed a law banning trans school children from being able to participate in sports teams that match their gender identity.

In 2019, Texas also passed a religious freedom law, which civil rights groups say could allow businesses to withhold services from LGBTQ+ people on the basis of religious objections.

We started this campaign in South Texas.

We celebrated our primary victory in South Texas.

Tonight, we return to South Texas to celebrate re-election for four more years of prosperity.

God Bless Texas! pic.twitter.com/ylXHv6etRT

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 9, 2022

Win: Democrat James Roesener became the first out trans man to be elected to US state legislature

In a huge win for trans representation, Democrat James Roesener has become the first out trans man to be elected to any state legislature in US history.

Winning in New Hampshire’s 22nd state House District, Ward 8, the 26-year-old is proudly bisexual and lives in Concord with his wife and cat.

Roesener says he was “born an advocate for the underdog” and, amongst other issues, is campaigning for better access to affordable, quality, and comprehensive healthcare, more investment in education and defending the right to abortion.

BREAKING: James Roesener makes history as the first out transgender man elected to a U.S. state legislature #NOH8 🏳️‍⚧️🌈 pic.twitter.com/f2ZvoRFJTK

— NOH8 Campaign (@NOH8Campaign) November 9, 2022

Loss: Architect of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill Ron DeSantis won a second term as Florida governor

As one of the most controversial and high profile examples of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the US, Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill has caused outcry amongst LGBTQ+ activists and already spawned multiple copy cat bills.

The legislation, which is officially called the Parental Rights in Education bill, will restrict “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”

Now in a renewed loss for the queer community, the man who signed that bill into law has won his re-election bid.

Ron DeSantis’ victory was to be expected but remains a big loss for Florida as he is set to continue implementing sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and normalising transphobic rhetoric on the public stage.   

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has won reelection to his second term in office, defeating Democrat Charlie Crist.

DeSantis’ victory will help him continue his march as a rising Republican star and could serve as a launching pad to a 2024 White House bid. https://t.co/lCA8pLaimu pic.twitter.com/unmSrOwZnN

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 9, 2022

Win: Becca Balint won a landslide victory to become the first lesbian to occupy Vermont’s single seat in the House of Representatives

Democrat Becca Balint has won the race for Vermont’s lone seat in the House, becoming the first woman and first out lesbian to represent the state in Congress.

On the evening of Tuesday 9 November, Balint thanked her supporters in an Instagram post: “Today, we reaffirmed that Vermont, and this nation, is still a place where anything is possible. We’re still capable of change and progress.”

The former middle school teacher is passionate about protecting voter rights and has voiced concerns over the transparency of the US Supreme Court.

Thank you, Vermonters! Thank you for your confidence in me. Thank you for giving me this incredible honor and opportunity to serve this state I love so much.

Today, we reaffirmed that Vermont, and this nation, is still a place where anything is possible. pic.twitter.com/oqh8BDAcnI

— Becca Balint for Congress (@BeccaBalintVT) November 9, 2022

Win: Delaware re-elected the US’ first openly trans state senator Sarah McBride

Sarah McBride has won re-election, in 2021 she became the first openly transgender person to be elected to the US state senate.

At just 30 years old, her win makes her the highest ranking transgender public official in the United States.

Thank you to the First District for placing your trust in me to represent this community for another term in the Delaware Senate.

We’ve already demonstrated that nothing is truly impossible when we dream of it and fight for it. Let’s keep dreaming big for our small state. pic.twitter.com/cAIqzvgXYh

— Sen. Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) November 9, 2022

Win: Jared Polis, the first openly gay man to be elected and re-elected to a governorship in the United States, won re-election

Democrat Jared Polis will serve a second term as the governor of Colorado after winning re-election, defeating Republican challenger Heidi Ganahl

In his victory speech, Polis said: “The fact is we did something simple. We focused on issues that really affect people’s lives and we delivered real results. We focused on lowering costs and more freedom.”

I’m spending the day doing what I love most about being your governor — thanking workers, talking with community members, greeting students, and sharing my vision for our great state.

It’d be the honor of my life to serve another four years as your governor. Please vote, CO! pic.twitter.com/QQOww19iBy

— Jared Polis (@PolisForCO) November 8, 2022

Loss: LGBTQ+ rights icon Jim Obergefell lost his election in Ohio

His case to the Supreme Court, Obergefell vs. Hodges, ushered in marriage equality in the US back in 2015, but today Jim Obergefell failed to win his election in Ohio.

Running against Republican incumbent attorney D.J. Swearingen, Ohio has elected very few openly gay politicians to the legislature. State Senator Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, has been the only openly gay state lawmaker in Ohio for several years.

Tweeting after the result, Obergefell said: “The results were not what we were hoping for, but that does not mean that I will stop fighting.”

More Wins: Maryland elected its first Black governor and Maxwell Alejandro Frost became the first Gen-Z’er to be elected to the House of Representatives

Wes Moore is Maryland’s newly-elected governor, in his acceptance speech, Moore thanked voters for believing in “the son of an immigrant”.

Frost, a high-profile organiser and activist who has worked with the ACLU and the March for Our Lives, ran a progressive campaign that committed to “end gun violence, win Medicare For All, transform our racist criminal justice system, and end the climate crisis”.

I am Congressman-Elect Maxwell Alejandro Frost and I will be the first member of Generation-Z in the United States Congress.

WE MADE HISTORY!!! Don’t count young people out. pic.twitter.com/Nd3vr5iPT0

— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) November 9, 2022

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