LPAC's October 2023 Endorsements
Washington D.C. (October 16, 2023) – LPAC, the only organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ women and nonbinary people to local, state, and federal office, is excited to announce our endorsement of 26 groundbreaking LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates! As the November election quickly approaches, we're so proud to be supporting over 100 candidates this year - the most we've ever endorsed in an odd-year cycle! You can find out more about this month's endorsees below.
Jennifer Tran (she/her), U.S. House, CA-12
Dr. Jennifer Tran is a Democrat running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California’s 12th Congressional district, which covers parts of Oakland and Berkeley. Dr. Tran is an ethnic studies professor at California State University, a small business owner, and a community organizer.
Christy Holstege (she/her), California State Assembly (District 47)
Palm Springs City Council Member Christy Holstege is a Democrat running for the California State Assembly. This is her second run, in 2022 she narrowly lost the race for this seat by 85 votes. Holstege, a civil rights attorney, was first elected to serve on Palm Springs City Council in 2017 as part of the first all-LGBTQ city council in the U.S.
Lisa Middleton (she/her), California State Senate (District 19)
Palm Springs City Council Member Lisa Middleton is challenging a Republican incumbent for a tossup seat in the California State Senate. If elected to the Senate, Middleton would make history as the first out transgender person to serve in the California Legislature.
Nicole Bolden (she/her), Bloomington City Clerk, Indiana
Nicole Bolden is a Democrat running for re-election as Bloomington City Clerk in Indiana. Bolden was first elected in 2016 and has been actively involved in public and political service for over 20 years.
Karen Bolton (she/her), Bremerton School Board, Washington
Dr. Karen Bolton is running for re-election to the Bremerton School Board in Washington. After dropping out of high school, she joined the navy, where she went on to become an officer and serve more than 20 years, receiving numerous medals and letters of commendation. Dr. Bolton returned to school and ultimately earned her PhD before being elected in 2019.
Sam Bowling (she/her), Norwood City Council, Ohio
Sam Bowling is a Democrat challenging a Republican incumbent for a seat on the Norwood City Council in Ohio. Bowling is a small business owner and has worked in the hospitality field for over a decade. She serves on the Board of Directors for Cincinnati Pride and volunteers with local organizations that support trans youth.
Lynn Blasey (she/her), Hamtramck City Council, Michigan
Lynn Blasey is running for one of three at-large seats on the Hamtramck City Council in Michigan. Earlier this year, the council unanimously passed a resolution banning LGBTQ+, political and religious flags on government property.
Charlotte Bruewer (she/her), Golf Manor Village Council, Ohio
Charlotte Bruewer is running for a seat on the Golf Manor Village Council in Ohio. Bruewer became involved in local politics to support a local nondiscrimination ordinance and increase transparency on the council.
Emily Clouse (she/her), Thurston County Commission, Washington
Emily Clouse is a Democrat running for a seat on the Thurston County Commission in Washington. Clouse is a combat veteran, a nonprofit leader, and a union member. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of CARE, an organization serving formerly incarcerated youth.
Anula Courtis (she/her), Woodstock Town Board, New York
Anula Courtis is a Democrat running for the Woodstock Town Board in New York. Courtis co-founded the Woodstock Women’s March and helped create the first Human Rights Commission in Woodstock’s history, serving as Chairperson for four years.
Celia Israel (she/her), Travis County Tax Assessor and Collector, Texas
Celia Israel is running for Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector in Texas. A former four-term State Representative, Israel co-founded the LGBTQ Caucus in the Texas House. This is a very important race, the winner will oversee voter registration in one of Texas's most-populous counties.
Susanna Johnson (she/her), Snohomish County Sheriff, Washington
Susanna Johnson is running for Snohomish County Sheriff in Washington. Johnson has worked in law enforcement for more than three decades and has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. She is challenging a far-right conservative incumbent who has faced three recall efforts.
Khalilah Karim (she/her), Durham City Council, North Carolina
Khalilah Karim is running for a seat on the Durham City Council in North Carolina. Karim works with North Carolina League of Conservation Voters pushing back on policies that contribute to climate change and cause environmental impacts that hit Black and Brown communities the hardest.
Lauranett Lee (she/her), Chesterfield County School Board, Virginia
Lauranett Lee is running for an open seat on the Chesterfield County School Board in Virginia. Lee has been an educator and historian for more than 25 years and is focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff, increasing funding for additional student support, and keeping schools safe.
Marni LeFevre (she/her), West Valley City Council, Utah
Marni LeFevre is running for a seat on West Valley City Council in Utah. LeFevre is challenging a conservative incumbent and is focused on affordable housing and sustainable energy.
Melody Mayle (she/her), Golf Manor Village Council, Ohio
Melody Mayle is running for an unexpired term on the Golf Manor Village Council in Ohio. Mayle became involved in local politics in 2021 in support of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. Since then, Mayle has taken the lead on organizing community events such as Pride and Juneteenth celebrations.
Jo Miller (they/them), Woodbury City Council, New Jersey
Jo Miller is a Democrat running to retain a seat on Woodbury City Council in New Jersey that they were appointed to in April. Miller is the Deputy Executive Director of the Camden County Democratic Committee (CCDC), where they have pushed for internal changes to permit nonbinary people to seek committee seats and formed CCDC’s first LGBTQ+ Caucus.
Theresa Pergola (she/her), Glen Cove City Council, New York
Theresa Pergola is a Democrat running for a seat on the Glen Cove City Council in New York. Pergola is a human resources professional with over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector serving underserved populations.
Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez (she/they), Oakland USD Board of Directors, California
Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez is running for the Oakland Unified School District (USD) Board of Directors in California. Ritzie-Hernandez was born in Mexico and grew up in a small Afro-Indigenous community. Throughout her career in education as a family engagement specialist, she has worked to create a culturally responsive education system.
Lane Santa Cruz (they/she), Tucson City Council, Arizona
Council Member Lane Santa Cruz is a Democrat running for re-election to the Tucson City Council in Arizona. Before running for office, Santa Cruz worked as a council aide and spent over a decade working on issues related to gender violence, food justice, migrant rights, and ethnic studies. They were first elected in 2019.
Jamika Scott (she/her), Tacoma City Council, Washington
Jamika Scott is running for a seat on the Tacoma City Council in Washington. Scott serves on the Tacoma Public Library Foundation Board of Directors as well as the Tacoma Arts Commission. She placed first in the five-way primary with 42 percent of the vote.
Charrie Stambaugh (she/her), Greenwood City Council, Indiana
Charrie Stambaugh is a Democrat running for Greenwood City Council in Indiana. Stambaugh is a small business owner and photographer with nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit management.
Kari Suhadolnik (she/her), Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education
Kari Suhadolnik is running to retain her seat on the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education in Ohio after being appointed to the seat in November 2022. She is the co-founder of a nonprofit that serves economically disadvantaged Stow residents.
Bianca Tirado (she/her), South Bend City Clerk, Indiana
Bianca Tirado is a Democrat running for South Bend City Clerk in Indiana. In the May Democratic primary, Tirado unseated the incumbent Clerk, earning 56 percent of the vote to the incumbent’s 29 percent. Tirado is focused on efficient processes and procedures, transparency and accessibility.
Jasmine Vasavada (she/her), Port of Olympia Commission, Washington
Jasmine Vasavada is running for the Port of Olympia Commission in Washington. Vasavada attended law school at the University of Washington and has worked on environmental advocacy and economic development policy her entire career.
Jen Westmoreland (she/her), Hennepin County Commission, Minnesota
Jen Westmoreland is running in a special election for a seat on the Hennepin County Commission in Minnesota – the state's most-populous county. Westmoreland is currently the President of the Hopkins School Board and is halfway through her second term on the Board. She also serves on the executive committee for Heading Home Hennepin, an organization working to end homelessness in the county.
First row from top: Jennifer Tran, Christy Holstege, Lisa Middleton, Nicole Bolden, Karen Bolton, Sam Bowling, Lynn Blasey
Second row from top: Charlotte Bruewer, Emily Clouse, Anula Courtis, Celia Israel, Susanna Johnson, Khalilah Karim, Lauranett Lee
Third row from top: Marni LeFevre, Melody Mayle, Jo Miller, Theresa Pergola, Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez, Lane Santa Cruz, Jamika Scott
Bottom row: Charrie Stambaugh, Kari Suhadolnik, Bianca Tirado, Jasmine Vasavada, Jen Westmoreland