Endorsed candidates support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans. Check who they are...
Listed first are ENDORSED CANDIDATES TO FUND followed by OTHER ENDORSED CANDIDATES.
These are the top priority candidates to support. Do three things: HELP THEM, TELL THEM, FOLLOW UP
- HELP THEM: Give money, fundraise for them, volunteer, do a house party, etc.
- TELL THEM: That you are an LGBTQ donor and that you are proud they support LGBTQ legal equality.
- FOLLOW UP: After the election, congratulate them and encourage them to pass legislation for legal equality.
Note that the
maximum that you can give to federal candidates in 2007-2008 is $42,700. This is why it is critical to focus your giving in candidates that are pro-equality instead of giving to candidates that may not be 100% on our issues.
ENDORSED CANDIDATES TO FUND IN 2008
These candidates are pro-equality (because they support all the Equality Goals), are running for federal or statewide office, and are in a competitive race (usually polling within 10 points of the opponent). They are considered the highest priority for funding. See the details of the criteria for endorsements. All of the candidates were personally interviewed by eQualityGiving. To initiate the endorsement process, the candidate must complete this form.
GIVE TO CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE US HOUSE (D-AZ)
Donate to Giffords | Campaign website
UPDATE: Won reelection 55% to 43%
Because she is a pro-equality Congresswoman, she is an Equality Hero. Because she is in a close race for re-election, she is also an Endorsed Candidate to Fund.
Her district, held for many years by openly gay Jim Kolbe until she won this seat two years ago, is up for grabs, as she faces the Arizona State Senate President, Republican Tim Bee.
"One of the most basic principles of our great nation is our respect for personal freedom, and I am committed to protecting the freedom of each and every American. The government should not determine what marriage is or is not. That is up to the people in the relationship. I also support equalizing the treatment of same-sex couples and families. The civil rights of all Americans should be honored and strengthened. That is one of my top priorities in Congress."
GIVE TO NICK CARTER FOR US SENATE (D-WY)
Donate to Nick Carter | Nick Carter website
UPDATE: Lost 27% to 73%
Debunking the theory that you cannot be pro-equality if
you want to win in a red state, Carter has a
real chance to pull off an upset.
"As an avid constitutionalist hailing from 'the Equality State'
of Wyoming, I understand that, like any other group of people that have
been discriminated upon, the LGBTQ community needs constitutional
advocacy. I will bring that advocacy to Washington and fight for full
marriage equality."
GIVE TO JEFF MERKLEY FOR US SENATE (D-OR)
Donate to Jeff Merkley | Jeff Merkley website
UPDATE: Won by 2,647 votes
As Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, Jeff had a crucial role in bringing the Domestic Partnership law to Oregon last year. Now he is ready to fight for LGBTQ equality at the national level.
"Gordon Smith has not done enough for LGBT rights as a Senator. I will work in the Senate, as I have in the Oregon House, to convince my colleagues to support equality legislation."
GIVE TO AL FRANKEN FOR US SENATE (D-MN)
Letter from Donor | Donate to Al Franken | Al Franken website
UPDATE: Mandatory recount in progress
Franken supports all Equality Goals, and his chances of defeating the Republican incumbent are considered likely.
"Look I have been married for 32 years. My marriage is so important to me that I wouldn't want to deny it to anyone. And I don’t see gay marriage as a threat to my marriage. What I think is a more important issue is employment, is ENDA. Thirty-three states say it is legal to fire someone for being gay and I think that’s a bigger issue."
GIVE TO LINDA KETNER FOR US HOUSE (D-SC)
Letter from Donor | Donate to Linda Ketner| Linda Ketner website
UPDATE: Lost 48% to 52%
Linda is the first eQualityGiving Advisory Board Member to run for office and one of the most prominent lesbian donors in the country. Her campaign prospectus is impressive because it highlights her many qualifications and shows she can upset an unpopular Republican incumbent in a district that should be represented by a Democrat.
If elected, she would be the second open lesbian in Congress, joining Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, an Equality Hero.
GIVE TO BETSY MARKEY FOR US HOUSE (D-CO)
Letter from Donor | Donate to Betsy Markey | Betsy Markey website
UPDATE: Won 56% to 44%
Running against
Marilyn Musgrave, the author of the discriminatory Marriage Protection Amendment, Betsy supports equal rights for everybody, including gays and lesbians.
GIVE TO ASHWIN MADIA FOR US HOUSE (D-MN)
Letter from Donor | Donate to Ashwin Madia | Ashwin Madia website
UPDATE: Lost 41% to 48%
As a Marine and a lawyer from immigrant parents, Madia served in Bagdad in '05 and '06. He stands fearless in his support for equality,including marriage.
"I support gay marriage because it's time that our society became truly equal and stopped discriminating against people based on who they love. I think leaders need to show courage in standing up for marriage and equality."
GIVE TO DARCY BURNER FOR US HOUSE (D-WA)
Donate to Darcy Burner | Darcy Burner website
UPDATE: Lost 48% to 52%
Burner is pro-equality because she supports marriage equality and all the Equality Goals. She supports including transgender protections in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. In 2006, she nearly beat the Republican incumbent, and this time around she very well may.
"I am deeply committed to the principle of equal treatment under the law. It is the bedrock of our democracy; our founding principle is that all persons are created equal."
GIVE TO JOHN KROGER FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL (D-OR)
Donate to John Kroger | John Kroger website
UPDATE: Won in a landslide with 72% of the vote
Kroger is a law professor, an ex-marine, and a former federal
prosecutor. As Attorney General, he would be enthusiastic in his
responsibility to enforce Oregon's new Domestic Partnership law.
"Personally, I believe in same-sex marriage. Though religious
organizations must be free to recognize their own rules, I believe the
state should not discriminate by providing marital benefits to some,but
not others."
OTHER ENDORSED CANDIDATES IN 2008
These candidates up for election this year deserve to be endorsed since they are pro-equality, but funding their campaigns is not as strategic because they are not in a competitive race (either they consistently poll ahead of the opponent by more than 10 points or they trail the opponent consistently by more than 10 points). Should any of these heroes find themselves in close races, they will be listed as an Endorsed Candidate to Fund, and an alert will be send to inform the donors.
Check the websites of these Endorsed Candidates who are pro-equality but not in close races and are either expected to win or lose by a wide margin:
-
CANDIDATE for US HOUSE JARED POLIS (CO) - WON
-
CANDIDATE for US SENATE CHRIS ROTHFUSS (WY) - Lost
- CANDIDATE for US HOUSE STEVE YOUNG (CA) - Lost
- CANDIDATE for US HOUSE DOUG TUDOR (FL) - Lost
Check the websites of these Endorsed Candidates who are pro-equality incumbents and WON re-election handily:
-
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI
- CONGRESSWOMAN TAMMY BALDWIN
- CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK
- CONGRESSMAN RUSH HOLT
-
CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH
-
CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON JR.
-
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
-
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE
-
CONGRESSMAN JIM MORAN
-
CONGRESSMAN JERROLD NADLER
- DELEGATE ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
Check also: Endorsement Criteria | Form to Endorse Candidates | Heartbreaking Candidates | Candidates to Defeat
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