Election Results: LGBT Races to Watch

It was truly a landslide for equality all across the country, including wins at the ballot box for marriage equality, the first gay U.S. senator, and a new generation of representatives in Congress.

BY Michelle Garcia

November 06 2012 6:37 PM ET UPDATED: November 12 2012 4:13 PM ET

Kyrsten Sinema — U.S. House (Arizona 9)
RESULTS: Sinema Wins

UPDATED, Nov. 12, 3:12 p.m. Eastern - Kyrsten Sinema has officially been elected as the nation's first openly bisexual congresswoman, the Associated Press reports. The race to represent Arizona's ninth district was too close to call until Monday morning, when the AP announced that Sinema's lead had risen to more than 6,000 votes — a margin too large for her opponent, Vernon Parker, to overcome.

The Victory Fund, which funds and trains LGBT political candidates, backed Sinema's campaign. "We're thrilled for Kyrsten," Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said in a statement. "She's a dynamic leader and she'll be a strong voice for her community and for all LGBT Americans."

Sinema announced Sunday that she had gained votes against Parker.

"On Sunday, after additional votes were tallied by the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, Sinema increased her lead by an additional 1,079 votes. Sunday’s total brings Sinema’s lead to 5,789 over Parker, or 2.8%. We look forward to the remaining votes being counted and Kyrsten Sinema being sworn into Congress next year."

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Kyrsten Sinema is nontheist and openly bisexual. Despite being an improbable Arizona candidate, she’s risen through the ranks in the state legislature and is now poised to become a congresswoman in an historic election. She said the vote count has her "optimistic" on the possibility that she has won. (Read More About The Race)