New data released from LGBTQ+ Victory Fund shows that LGBTQ+ candidates continue to grow in diversity and make gains in representation in key areas compared to the previous presidential election in 2020.

Access the Out on the Trail 2024 report here.

“2024 is a pivotal year for our democracy, and we’ve already seen the power of hateful vitriol, misinformation and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric infecting the electoral process. Our work is the antidote, and we are proud to see so many LGBTQ+ candidates running to serve nearly everywhere in our nation – including nearly 400 candidates for state legislatures,” says LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Annise Parker.  “We know what’s at stake – our rights, freedoms and democracy itself. Out LGBTQ+ candidates for office bring critical values and perspectives to their work in leadership. These candidates represent our nation’s future, reflect our nation’s diversity and show that LGBTQ+ people are vital, instrumental voices in our halls of power.” 

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund tracked at least 1,017 LGBTQ+ candidates who ran for local, state or federal office in 2024, a slight increase over the 2020 count of 1,006 and a slight decrease from 2022 midterms. As of this report LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has endorsed 483 candidates for office in 2024.

• LGBTQ+ candidate pool was more diverse by gender identity, sexual orientation and race/ethnicity than 2020, while the number of candidates running stayed relatively consistent between 2020, 2022 and 2024.
  • LGBTQ+ candidates ran in 49 of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C.
  • Nebraska was the only state with no LGBTQ+ candidates in 2024, California had the most with 198 LGBTQ+ candidates running.
• LGBTQ+ candidates ran for all levels of government
  • More than one-third of candidates are running for state legislative offices in 2024, of which around 17% are transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming people.
  • 40% of LGBTQ+ candidates ran for local office in 2024.
  • 7% ran for federal office including congressional races.
• The share of candidates who are transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming grew by more than seven percentage points between 2020 and 2024 (7.9% to 15.2%, respectively).
• More candidates are pansexual, queer, or bisexual in 2024 compared to 2020
  • For the first time gay people represented fewer than 50% of total LGBTQ+ candidates.
  • Just over 1/3 of all LGBTQ+ candidates running this year are bisexual, pansexual or queer according to the data.
• More than one-third of all LGBTQ+ candidates are candidates of color (37.6%), a proportional growth of 6.7% between the 2020 presidential election and 2024.
  • Hispanic/Latine LGBTQ+ candidates are the highest non-white racial/ethnic group represented with 14.1% of candidates reporting Hispanic/Latinx identity.
  • 12.1% of candidates are Black, followed by 5.7% of candidates reporting multiracial identity and 3.7% of candidates reporting Asian American and/or Pacific Island heritage.
• More LGBTQ+ candidates are on the ballot in 2024 when compared to 2020, with 574 on ballot in 2020 and 668 in 2024, growing 14.1%
  • Candidates for congress grew from 60 in 2020 to 71 in 2024, and the number on ballot increased from 24 to 38.

Access the Out on the Trail 2024 report here.

Methodology:

The Out on the Trail report is compiled using data from candidate applications submitted for our public LGBTQ+ candidate endorsement program, candidates who connect with us directly, and those who are found through research and connection with partner groups. In addition to connecting with candidates and campaigns and other primary sources of information like their websites and social media, we use secondary sources such as media coverage and partner records to validate candidates for inclusion within Out on the Trail. Due to the nature and complexity of identity, as well as the volume of races nationwide, this census of candidates may not include all LGBTQ+ candidates running in 2024.

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About LGBTQ+ Victory Fund 

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund works to achieve and sustain equality by increasing the number of out LGBTQ+ elected officials at all levels of government while ensuring they reflect the diversity of those they serve. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of LGBTQ+ candidates win local, state and federal elections. 

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