Key LGBT races to watch
When the polls close tonight, keep an eye on these critical races
A number of LGBT candidates are on the ballot this Election Day in states across the country. Here are the key races to watch when the polls close tonight.
Michaud vs. LePage
In Maine, Democrat Mike Michaud is seeking to unseat Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Michaud, who is currently a member of the House of Representatives, came out as gay last November. If elected, Michaud would become the first openly gay governor in the nation’s history. He has seen a number of prominent Democrats campaign on his behalf, including President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton.
Tisei vs. Moulton
In Massachusetts’s 6th Congressional District, openly gay Republican Richard Tisei is in a close race against pro-LGBT Democrat Seth Moulton. In September, Democratic Rep. John Tierney suffered a surprising primary defeat to Moulton, a young Marine veteran vowing to keep the seat in Democratic control. Two years prior, Tisei lost narrowly to Tierney 47.1 percent to 48.3 percent. Many credited the win by a vulnerable Tierney, whose wife was mired in a federal tax scandal, to President Barack Obama and Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren being at the top of the 2012 ballot. Ties served 26 years in the Massachusetts State Legislature.
Social conservatives, including the National Organization for Marriage, have backed Moulton despite his pro-LGBT record rather than the openly gay Republican due to Tisei’s support for LGBT rights and abortion rights. Moulton has rejected that support. Should Tisei win, he would become the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress
DeMaio vs. Peters
In California’s 52nd Congressional District, Carl DeMaio is also attempting to make history as the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress in his race against Democratic Rep. Scott Peters. The race has grown increasingly ugly in recent weeks has DeMaio has faced allegations of sexual harassment from two former campaign workers. DeMaio has denied those allegations, accusing the Peters campaign of dirty politics. DeMaio is a former member of the San Diego City Council.
Read more about Tisei, DeMaio and the fight for the heart and soul of the GOP.
Eldridge vs. Gibson
Democrat Sean Eldridge, who is married to Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes, is attempting to unseat Republican Rep. Chris Gibson in New York’s 19th Congressional District. Although Gibson has not openly endorsed same-sex marriage, he has been a vocal Republican supporter of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Last month, Metro Weekly reported Gibson backs attaching ENDA as an amendment to a broader defense bill in order to move the LGBT nondiscrimination legislation in the lame duck session. Eldridge previously worked for Freedom to Marry and helped in efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.
Maloney vs. Hayworth
Out Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney is facing his former Republican opponent, Nan Hayworth, in New York’s 18th Congressional District. Two years ago, Maloney defeated Hayworth in her bid for reelection to the House of Representatives. Although Hayworth has not said she believes there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage nationwide, she earned a 71 percent score for her support of LGBT issues on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard for the 112th Congress. Hayworth also featured her gay son in an ad released last month.
Aiken vs. Ellmers
In North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Clay Aiken is attempting to unseat Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers. Aiken is gay and a former American Idol finalist.
Healey vs. Miller
In Massachusetts, Democrat Maura Healey is attempting to become the nation’s first openly gay attorney general. She is facing Republican John Miller. Healey served as assistant attorney general to Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who is running for governor along with the openly gay Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Stephen Kerrigan, and helped spearhead the state’s challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Catania vs. Bowser vs. Schwartz vs. Majors
In the race for mayor of the District of Columbia, D.C. Council member David Catania is vying to become the first openly gay mayor of the capital of the United States in what has become the first competitive D.C. mayor’s race in years. Catania, an independent, is facing Democrat Muriel Bowser, independent Carol Schwartz and Libertarian Bruce Majors, who is also gay.
More Races to Watch
Openly gay Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Jared Polis of Colorado, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Mark Takano of California are also up for reelection.
In Oregon, pro-LGBT Republican Monica Wehby is attempting to unseat Sen. Jeff Merkley, the champion of ENDA in the Senate. Wehby has also been targeted by social conservatives for featuring in an ad one of the plaintiffs who successfully sued Oregon over the state’s same-sex marriage ban.
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