Election Wrap-up: Good for the LGBT Community

Election Wrap-up: Good for the LGBT Community
by David Mixner
Copyright by David Mixner
Jun 10 2010
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Elections Last Tuesday was a major election day in many states and sets up some pretty interesting races come November. Happily, the big victor on election day was the LGBT community. Everywhere the right wing National Organization for Marriage (NOM) pushed candidates, they lost badly. In some races, it was a clear cut issue between full equality for LGBT people or repression and in each case we won. Some of those victories include:

1. In Iowa, NOM had two major losses. First in the governor's race where the former Republican Governor Terry Branstad was targeted in the Republican primary. In a three way race, Branstad got over 50% and the crazy candidate that NOM endorsed received a sad 40% of the vote. State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad was made a target by NOM in the Democratic Party primary. He overwhelmingly defeated the NOM candidate. Ako supports marriage equality.

2. In Oakland, California, a transgender law judge is leading in the race for Alameda County Superior Court. Victoria Kolakowski was receiving 46% of the vote according LGBTPOV.com. far ahead of her nearest opponent.

3. Pro-LGBT Democrat turned back a NOM challenge in Southern California 43 Assembly district. Democrat Matt Gatto received 56% of the vote. Another big loss for NOM.

4. Also in Southern California, Ricardo Lara won the nomination for the 50th Assembly District and becomes the second gay Latino heading for the Assembly.

5. Also in California, open lesbian Jill Ravitch won the race for Sonoma County District Attorney.

6. There were additional victories in California, Maine and Montana for LGBT candidates.