Candidates for Equality

Equality Candidates

by Human Rights Campaign PAC

$
Distributed among the recipients below

Your contribution today can help the pro-equality candidates listed below in the critical November elections. These HRC-endorsed candidates will bring fair-minded principles to Congress and the White House, and each is in a highly competitive race.

The candidates on this page will change as the election nears, so please check back often. After you contribute today, please pass along this information to family and friends.

Barack Obama

President

Sen. Obama’s support of fair-minded policies for GLBT Americans stands in stark contrast to that of Sen. McCain’s. Obama supports ending workplace discrimination and sensible hate crime prevention laws for the GLBT community. Obama supports appropriate AIDS funding, and a repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. McCain, by comparison, voted against ENDA, against the Matthew Shepard Act, and supports discrimination in the military. Contribute now to Obama through HRC to help elect a truly pro-equality President!

Gabrielle Giffords

AZ-08 (Map)

While trying to claim to be a moderate, State Senator Tim Bee (R ) was the deciding and final vote in sending the discriminatory marriage amendment to Arizona voters this November. George W. Bush clearly appreciated that move, because he came to Tucson on July 18th to host a fundraiser for Bee.

Bee is facing HRC endorsee Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) this November, and she needs your support. Giffords has always stood for pro-equality legislation and knows the importance of fair employment and hate crimes prevention laws. And she has been clear and public in her opposition to the marriage ballot measure in 2006, and again this year.

Please help send a message to President Bush and Tim Bee that Arizonans do not stand for discrimination by making a generous contribution to Gabrielle Giffords.

Ashwin Madia

MN-03 (Map)

Iraq War veteran Ashwin Madia (D) is a pro-equality congressional leader in the making. As a Marine Corp lawyer, Madia defended a gay marine from discrimination in the military, and as a congressman, he would help overturn the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Madia is running in a hotly contested House race in the presidential battleground state of Minnesota. The seat’s Republican incumbent is retiring this year, but given the district’s competitive demographics (in 2004, George Bush barely won over Kerry 51% to 48%) this District presents a solid opportunity to elect a GLBT ally.

Debbie Halvorson

IL-11 (Map)

Illinois State Senator Debbie Halvorson (D) has amassed a strong record on issues of equality, including her support of the state’s employment protection law for GLBT workers. Halvorson, who served alongside Barack Obama in Springfield, would bring fair-minded principles to Congress, but first must face wealthy businessman Martin Ozinga (R ), who has indicated he’ll spend generously from his own pocket. Your contribution to Halvorson can help to ensure she’ll be able to compete this November, and put this seat in the hands of a fair-minded leader.

Mark Begich

AK-Sen (Map)

Incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens (R ), mired in a corruption scandal, faces his toughest reelection to date against Anchorage mayor and fair-minded candidate, Mark Begich (D). During his six term career in the Senate, Stevens has been no friend to the GLBT community; he received a 0% on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard in the last Congress, voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and 2006 and even opposed the Matthew Shepard Act in 2007. Begich, in contrast, has a record of supporting equality and working with the GLBT community in Anchorage. Begich supports sensible HIV/AIDS funding, and employment and hate crime prevention measures for the GLBT community. This race will be close, but Begich needs critical funds to match Stevens’ fundraising advantage.

Mark Udall

CO-Sen (Map)

With Sen. Wayne Allard retiring, voters have a chance to replace the author of the Federal Marriage Amendment with a pro-equality leader. Since joining the House in 1999, Mark Udall (D) has demonstrated leadership in promoting equality, scoring a 100% on HRC’s Scorecard for each session of Congress. Additionally, Rep. Udall has been a supporter of a fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, strong hate crimes prevention legislation, and a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Udall’s likely opponent, former Rep. Bob Schaffer, earned flat 0% ratings from HRC for each year he served in the House. Udall faces a tough but very winnable race in a state that went to George W. Bush by 52% in 2004 but has been trending Democratic the past few elections. Mark Udall’s first cousin, Congressman Tom Udall, is running for Senate in New Mexico.

Jeanne Shaheen

NH-Sen (Map)

Former Governor Jeanne Shaheen (D) has a proven record of support for GLBT equality, including signing a repeal of the state’s ban on gay adoption and enacting a law to ban workplace discrimination. Shaheen supports an inclusive ENDA and hate crimes law, the civil unions law that recently took effect in New Hampshire and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Shaheen’s opponent, Republican incumbent Sen. John Sununu, has opposed many of HRC’s legislative priorities, including repeatedly opposing the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This rematch of the 2002 race is likely to be very close, with some polls showing Shaheen in the lead; she will need financial backing to get her message out and run an effective campaign.

Tom Udall

NM-Sen (Map)

With the retirement of Sen. Pete Domenici (R ), this New Mexico Senate seat becomes competitive, and there’s a chance to switch it to the pro-equality column. Rep. Tom Udall (D) supports key HRC legislation such as the fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and strong hate crimes prevention legislation. Rep. Steve Pearce is the Republican nominee, and has received 0% on HRC’s Scorecard every year since he came to Congress. In 2008, New Mexico is expected to be a battleground not only for the Senate, but also in the presidential race. Your contribution can make a big difference in this state with a small population. Tom Udall’s first cousin, Congressman Mark Udall, is running for Senate in Colorado.

Al Franken

MN-Sen (Map)

As a comedian, writer and radio talk show host, Al Franken (D) has always been outspoken, and his support of GLBT issues has been no exception. Franken backs pro-equality positions for key legislation such as increased HIV/AIDS funding, fair employment laws, and the repeal of the military’s discriminatory policy. Franken opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment, which his opponent, Sen. Norm Coleman (R ), backed in 2004 and 2006. The Senate race in Minnesota is expected to be highly competitive, especially since the state will be a battleground for the presidential election. Coleman won with just 49.5% of the vote when he ran in 2002; Franken has a very good chance to take this seat but needs financial support to get his message out.

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