8 LGBTQ+ Candidates to Watch in the 2020 Primary Races
By Nico Lang and Wren Sanders | Posted: Aug 11, 2020
The 2020 elections are already shaping up to be another groundbreaking year for LGBTQ+ candidates. In recent weeks, LGBTQ+ political hopefuls like Torrey Harris, Brandon Thomas, Marko Liias, Jon Hoadley, and Stephanie Byers have all won their primaries, en route to potentially making history in November. Although Byers, who hopes to become Kansas’ first trans state representative, ran unopposed in her district’s Democratic primary, Harris won by more than 32 points in a three-person race for the Tennessee House of Representatives. If elected, Harris would be the first Black LGBTQ+ lawmaker in his state’s history. Thomas — a fellow Black, gay man competing for the Tennessee House — could join him after facing no challengers in his primary race.
As Democratic primaries continue to be held in the coming weeks in states across the U.S., here’s a guide to some of the key candidates to keep an eye on.
Taylor Small (August 11)
Taylor Small is one of three transgender women running for the Vermont House of Representatives following Christine Hallquist’s groundbreaking 2018 gubernatorial bid. Small, who is campaigning in Chittenden 6-7 district, is joined by Ember Quinn and Jamie Dufour, who are running in the Chittenden-10 and Bennington 4 Districts, respectively. Small has a long history in LGBTQ+ and public health advocacy: She is currently employed as the director of the health and wellness program at Pride Center of Vermont and has previously worked as an advocate for homeless and runaway youth and in mental health services.
Hallquist, the first trans gubernatorial nominee in U.S. history, endorsed Small’s bid in comments to the local news site VTDigger. Small, if elected, would be the first transgender woman to serve in Vermont’s legislature, but her campaign has primarily centered on increasing access to health care across the state.
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