Victory Fund Sets New Endorsement Record

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today announced it has endorsed 123 openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates for public office so far in 2010, already surpassing its 2008 total of 111 candidates, the previous record.

Included in the newest slate of candidates is the Victory Fund’s sixth endorsement in a race for the U.S. House of Representatives this year. Scott Galvin is competing in a crowded Democratic primary to represent Florida’s 17th Congressional District, where he currently serves on the North Miami City Council.

Also endorsed for Congress this year are Steve Pougnet for California’s 45th District, David Cicilline for Rhode Island’s 1st District, Barney Frank for Massachusetts’ 4th District, Tammy Baldwin for Wisconsin’s 2nd District and Jared Polis for Colorado’s 2nd District.

But Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the group, said with more than four months to go until the general election, the Victory Fund isn’t done endorsing candidates yet.

“We’ve already broken our record, but I expect we’re actually going to smash it to bits,” Wolfe said. “I think people are tired of being misrepresented by extremist politicians who lie about the LGBT community. So we’ve been blessed this year with an amazing number of qualified, experienced people who are willing to run for office and tell the truth about themselves, about their families and about how fair-minded most Americans really are.”

Since 1991, the Victory Fund has helped to grow the number of openly LGBT elected officials serving in office in the U.S. from 49 to nearly 500. It’s endorsement means candidates are recommended to a national network of donors, and they also receive expert campaign and technical advice from an experienced political staff.