All three of the openly gay members of U.S. Congress will be returning to Washington next year. Arizona Republican representative Jim Kolbe received 63% of the vote over his Democratic challenger, Mary Judge Ryan, who received 34% of the vote. Wisconsin Democratic representative Tammy Baldwin received 67% of the vote against her antigay Republican challenger, Ron Greer, who claimed 33%. And in Massachusetts, Democratic representative Barney Frank was uncontested in his reelection bid. Three openly gay congressional challengers, Republican Richter Elser of Connecticut, Democrat Hank Perritt of Illinois, and Democrat Gerrie Schipske of California were unsuccessful in their election bids.
Meanwhile, at least 31 of the candidates who were supported by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a group set up to support viable gay and lesbian candidates, have been elected to office. In addition to Baldwin, those candidates include:
Jack Jackson, an Arizona Democrat elected to the state house of representatives;
Wally Straughn, an Arizona Democrat elected to the state house of representatives;
Carole Migden, a California Democrat who was elected to the state
board of equalization;
Christine Kehoe, a California Democrat reelected to the state assembly;
John Laird, a California Democrat elected to the state assembly;
Mark Leno, a California Democrat elected to the state assembly;
Gail Dekreon, elected as a California superior court judge;
Jennifer Veiga, a Colorado Democrat reelected to the state house
of representatives;
John Brady, a Delaware Republican who was elected Sussex County recorder of deeds;
David Cantania, a Republican reelected to Washington, D.C.'s city council;
Jim Graham, a Democrat reelected to Washington, D.C.'s city council;
Karla Drenner, a Georgia Democrat reelected to the state house of representatives;
Larry McKeon, an Illinois Democrat reelected to the state house of representatives;
Maggi McIntosh, a Maryland Democrat reelected to the state house of representatives;
Rich Madaleno, a Maryland Democrat elected to the state house of representatives;
Jarrett Barrios, a Massachusetts Democrat elected to the state senate;
Liz Malia, a Massachusetts Democrat reelected to the state house of representatives;
Chris Kolb, a Michigan Democrat reelected to the state house of representatives;
Dave Coulter, a Michigan Democrat elected to the Oakland County Commission;
Scott Dibble, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor party member elected to to the Minnesota state senate;
David Parks, a Nevada Democrat reelected to the state assembly;
Corbey Corbin, a New Hampshire Republican reelected to the state house of representatives;
Jim Spaine, a New Hampshire Democrat reelected to the state house of representatives;
Tom Duane, a New York Democrat reelected to the state senate;
Deborah Glick, a New York Democrat reelected to the state assembly;
Daniel O'Donnell, a New York Democrat elected to the state assembly;
Jim Roth, an Oklahoma Democrat elected to the Oklahoma County Commission;
David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat elected as mayor of Providence;
Jim Moeller, a Washington State Democrat elected to the state house of representatives;
and Tim Carpenter, a Wisconsin Democrat elected to the state senate.
Victory Fund candidates lost in three races so far, and the group reports that, at press time, it is awaiting returns from nine other races.
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