LPAC's September 2023 Endorsements

Washington D.C. (September 11, 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 17 trailblazing women and nonbinary candidates - the most candidates LPAC has ever endorsed at one time! These leaders have stepped up to run for office to make lasting change in their communities. You can find out more about each candidate below.

Marcia Price, Virginia House of Delegates, District 85

  • Delegate Marcia Price is running for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates. Price serves as Vice-Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and is currently the only Black LGBTQ person serving in the state legislature. 

Sylvia Swayne, Alabama House of Representatives, District 55

  • Sylvia Swayne is a Democrat running in a special election for a Birmingham-area seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. If elected, she will be the first trans person elected in the state of Alabama!

Chauntyll Allen, St. Paul Public School Board (MN)

  • In 2019, Allen became the first out LGBTQ person elected to the St. Paul Public School Board. LPAC is thrilled to support her in her re-election campaign.

Maren Costa, Seattle City Council (WA) 

  • When the pandemic hit, Maren Costa joined together with Amazon warehouse workers to protest unsafe working conditions and was fired as a result. Her illegal firing was nationally publicized, with nine U.S. Senators signing on to a letter demanding that Jeff Bezos re-hire her. Costa is putting her community organizing experience to good use on the campaign trail.

Elizabeth Greninger, SeaTac City Council (WA) 

  • A community advocate with over 15 years of experience in domestic and sexual violence prevention and response, Elizabeth Greninger is challenging an incumbent for a seat on the SeaTac City Council in Washington. 

Dia Hildenbrand, Circleville Board of Education (OH) 

  • Dia Hildenbrand is running for the Circleville Board of Education in Ohio to protect LGBTQ students and to ensure that Circleville schools are safe for all students.

Joy Hollingsworth, Seattle City Council (WA) 

  • Joy Hollingsworth, a small business owner and nonprofit leader, is running for an open seat on the Seattle City Council in Washington. She placed first in the August primary by 90 votes and LPAC is thrilled to support her in the competitive general election. 

Lyndsie Leech, Eugene City Council (OR)

  • Lyndsie Leech is running to retain her seat on the Eugene City Council in Oregon, after being appointed to the seat in December 2022. Leech is the Executive Director of a nonprofit providing mental health support for new parents.

Amelia McMillan, Central York School Board (PA)

  • Amelia McMillan is running for a seat on the Central York School Board in Pennsylvania. The board serves a population of 40,000 and in 2021 passed a far-reaching book ban. LPAC is proud to support McMillan's campaign to make the Central York school district safe for all students.

Maydee Morales, Worcester City Council (MA)

  • Maydee Morales is running for the Worcester City Council in Massachusetts. During the pandemic, Morales was a frontline worker and ran a vaccine clinic that vaccinated over 800 people on a daily basis. Over the course of her career, she has worked in philanthropy, city management, and social services.

ChrisTiana ObeySumner, Seattle City Council (WA)

  • ChrisTiana ObeySumner is running for an open seat on the Seattle City Council in Washington. If elected, ObeySumner would be the first nonbinary person and the first ace person elected to the Seattle City Council!

Elizabeth Parent, Fuquay-Varina Town Board of Commissioners (NC) 

  • Elizabeth Parent is running for an unexpired term on the Fuquay-Varina Town Board of Commissioners in North Carolina. She is the mother of three boys, a honey beekeeper, a childhood sexual abuse survivor, and a community advocate.

Holly Ryan, Newton City Council (MA)

  • When she was first elected in 2019, Ryan became the first out trans woman to serve on a City Council in the state of Massachusetts and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve on the Newton City Council. LPAC is happy to support her re-election campaign. 

Damon Sherry, Bowling Green City Council (OH) 

  • Damon Sherry is running for an open seat on the Bowling Green City Council in Ohio. If elected, Sherry would be the first nonbinary person elected to the Bowling Green City Council!

Caroline Smith, New Haven Board of Alders (CT) 

  • Caroline Smith is running unopposed for an open seat on the New Haven Board of Alders in Connecticut. Smith is the co-founder of Collab, a recognized nonprofit that reduces barriers for New Haven residents to start businesses with a specific focus on supporting women, people with lower-incomes, people of color, and immigrants. 

Cindy Strebig, Lakewood City Council (OH)

  • Cindy Strebig is running for an open seat on the Lakewood City Council in Ohio. Strebig has lived in Lakewood for 25 years and has been a small business owner and landlady in the community for 23 years.

Aime Wichtendahl, Hiawatha City Council (IA)

  • Aime Wichtendahl is running for her third term on the Hiawatha City Council in Iowa. When she was first elected in 2015, Wichtendahl made history as the first trans elected official in Iowa. On the state level, Wichtendahl has organized protests and testified against multiple anti-LGBTQ bills, including a gender-affirming care ban. LPAC is thrilled to support her in her re-election campaign.

Above (l-r): Marcia Price, Sylvia Swayne, Chauntyll Allen, Maren Costa, Elizabeth Greninger, Dia Hildenbrand

Middle (l-r): Joy Hollingsworth, Lyndsie Leech, Amelia McMillan, Maydee Morales, ChrisTiana ObeySumner, Elizabeth Parent

Below (l-r): Holly Ryan, Damon Sherry, Caroline Smith, Cindy Strebig, Aime Wichtendahl

Press ReleaseTeam LPAC