Yesterday the Human Rights Campaign PAC (HRC PAC) and Equality Virginia PAC (EV PAC) announced their joint endorsement of 21 pro-equality champions running for the Virginia State Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates, eight of whom identify as LGBTQ+. In-person early voting in Virginia begins on September 22, 2023 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
2023 has been a particularly egregious year for anti-LGBTQ legislation in the Virginia Assembly. Narissa Rahaman, Executive Director of Equality Virginia, said, “ “This year in Virginia, we had the most anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in a single legislative session. Time and time again, anti-equality lawmakers and the Youngkin administration have made it clear that they will continue to disrespect and disregard the lives and lived experience of LGBTQ+ people within Virginia. We must-elect pro-equality champions who will secure and strengthen our freedoms.
Equality Virginia-Endorsed & HRC PAC-Endorsed Virginia Senate Candidates (Hampton Roads region candidates are noted)
Schuyler Van Valkenberg                   SD-16
Aaron Rouse                   SD-22 (Virginia Beach)
Monty Mason                   SD-24 (Newport News, York County, Williamsburg)
Joel Griffin                     SD-27
Danica Roem                   SD-30
Russet Perry                    SD-31
Adam Ebbin                    SD-39
Equality Virginia-Endorsed & HRC PAC-Endorsed Virginia House Candidates (Hampton Roads region candidates are noted)
Adele McClure                                   HD-100 (Virginia Beach, Eastern Shore)
Laura Jane Cohen                              HD-15
Mark Sickles                    HD-17
Rozia Henson                   HD-19
Josh Thomas                    HD-21
Travis Nembhard                 HD-22
Susanna Gibson                 HD-57
Rodney Willet                                    HD-58
Joshua Cole                    HD-65
Kimberly Pope Adams                       HD-82
Nadarius Clark                  HD-84 (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Franklin)
Phil Hernandez                  HD-94 (Norfolk)
Kelly Convirs-Fowler              HD-96 (Virginia Beach)
Michael Feggans                 HD-97 (Virginia Beach)
This latest round of endorsements continues HRC’s multi-year investment to mobilize the Commonwealth’s 1.5 million Equality Voters. In 2020, HRC’s long-term efforts in Virginia culminated in the passage of the landmark bipartisan Virginia Values Act, making Virginia the first state in the South to enact nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Equality Voters, including the more than 1.5 million in Virginia, are a voting bloc of demographically and geographically diverse Americans who are united by the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality.
