MEMO: 40 Days Out -- Top Battleground Races Feature Republicans with Extreme, Out-of-Touch Anti-LGBTQ+ Records

With 40 days until the election, everyone is closely watching the (ever expanding) list of battleground races that could determine control of both chambers of Congress. As we enter the final stretch, HRC will not allow extreme voices like Andy Biggs, Jon Husted, and Ken Paxton to run away from their anti-LGBTQ records. We will also hold accountable candidates that try to portray themselves as moderate voices, like Mike Lawler, David Valadao, and John Sununu, while taking harmful actions on LGBTQ+ issues. From attacking access to best-practice healthcare, supporting discredited conversion therapy practices, banning Pride flags, bullying transgender young people and voting against marriage equality, their records are a collection of discrimination, division, and danger. 

A reminder: supporting equality isn’t just good public policy, it’s also a winning strategy with voters. According to research conducted by HRC and Global Strategy Group last year in battleground Congressional districts:

• 88% of battleground district voters oppose legislation that would limit healthcare for those who need treatment for HIV.
• 77% oppose legislation that would force transgender people off transition-related medication.
• 75% believe Congress should prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, including against transgender people.
• 73% believe Congress should protect the right to same-sex marriage.

Furthermore, LGBTQ+ voters are poised to showcase their power this election

• 92% of LGBTQ adults say they are “definitely voting” this year.
• 25.6 million U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+ (12+% of adult population).
• LGBTQ+ people are more than 10% of the population in 40 of 50 states, including in key battleground states like Arizona (13.3%), Georgia (11.5%), Michigan (11%), Pennsylvania (11.1%), and Texas (12.5%).

Despite these realities, without any record to run on, many MAGA candidates are relying on a campaign focused on fear, division, and disgusting attacks on LGBTQ+ people. But pro-equality candidates are pushing back. We have seen candidates like former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown effectively redirect anti-equality attacks to focus on cost of living issues. In Michigan, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed held the line on inclusive health care, reiterating that such decisions rest with parents, patients, and physicians. This is a winning formula for candidates across the country. 

Because at the end of the day, the stakes for the LGBTQ+ community in this election are not hypothetical. Due to the cruel and dangerous policies of the Trump administration and its MAGA majority Congress, HIV prevention funding and research has been slashed. Brave transgender servicemembers have been kicked out of the military. Healthcare access has been severely restricted or outright denied. A culture of bullying and harassment has been allowed to fester in schools, workplaces, and the halls of Congress. And most alarmingly, HRC Foundation research finds that nearly half of LGBTQ+ adults report being less out somewhere in their lives. This is why HRC and our allies are working as hard as possible to secure a pro-equality majority in Congress this election. 

Below is a list of the worst offenders in key competitive contests across the country–records these candidates all have to defend to their voters.  

Midterm Candidates and Their Anti-LGBTQ Records

Juan Ciscomani 

U.S. Representative, AZ-06

• Ciscomani supported President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which kicked more than 37,000 AZ-06 constituents off their health care.
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP– including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Ciscomani was a director at the anti-LGBTQ “Patriot Academy,” which promotes a biblical interpretation of the Constitution.
• Ciscomani voted to ban gender affirming care, books about transgender people and pride flags.
• Ciscomani voted to strike HIV prevention education activities.
• Ciscomani voted for a bill which included a forced outing provision.
• Received a score of only 11 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Congressional Scorecard during his first term in the 118th Congress. 

Jay Feely

Candidate for AZ-01 

• Feely supported President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which kicked more than 30,000 AZ-01 constituents off their health care.
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP – including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Jay Feely launched his campaign by attacking transgender children.
• Feely thanked President Trump for forcing Phoenix Children’s Hospital to stop providing evidence-based care to transgender youth.

Andy Biggs 

Candidate for Arizona Governor 

• Biggs voted against the Equality Act.
• Biggs voted against The Respect For Marriage Act.
• Biggs opposed Coronavirus relief bills because they recognized domestic partnerships.
• Biggs supported President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which kicked more than 422,000 Arizonans off their health care.
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP – including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Biggs voted against The LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act.
• Biggs voted to strike HIV prevention education activities.
• Biggs voted against The American Dream And Promise Act Of 2021.
• Biggs voted against The Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021.

David Valadao 

U.S. Representative, CA-22

• Valadao voted against The Equality Act.
• Valadao voted for The American Health Care Act, which would repeal and replace the ACA and cause millions to lose their health insurance.
• Valadao supported President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which kicked more than 61,000 CA-22 constituents off their health care. 
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP – including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Valadao voted against a bill that banned conversion therapy.
• Valadao voted against an anti-bullying bill.

Mike Collins 

Candidate for Georgia U.S. Senate 

• Collins said Episcopal Bishop who pleaded with President Trump to have mercy on LGBTQ people should be added to the deportation list.
• Collins repeatedly voted to ban Pride demonstrations.
• Collins voted for anti-LGBTQ riders, including bans on gender-affirming care, books on transgender people, drag performances, and Pride flags. 
• Collins voted for the “One Big Beautiful Bill, Georgia uninsured population will increase by 499,000 as a result. 
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP – including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Collins voted for an amendment that would prevent HUD from implementing a rule allowing equal access on the basis of gender identity in community planning and development programs.

Susan Collins 

U.S. Senator, Maine

• Collins supported President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which kicked more than 31,000 Mainers off their health care.
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP– including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Collins opposed The Employment Non-Discrimination Act in 2001.
• Collins voted to confirm Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to be Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States; both voted to overturn Roe v Wade and have joined multiple decisions undermining LGBTQ+ rights. 

Mike Rogers 

Candidate for Michigan U.S. Senate 

• Rogers voted multiple times for a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality.
• Rogers voted against repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
• Rogers called being gay a “lifestyle choice,” said he would not support marriage equality even if his child was gay because “the best cornerstone for that level of acceptance in American society is that marriage should be between a man and a woman.”
• Rogers voted against The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and The Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

John Sununu 

Candidate for New Hampshire U.S. Senate 

• Sununu said he did “not support legislation that would identify homosexuals as a group deserving of special protection from discrimination”
• Sununu voted for a Lindsey Graham motion to instruct senators to vote against expanding hate crimes protections to include gender, sexual orientation and disability
• Although he voted in 2004 against a federal constitutional amendment forbidding marriage equality, Sununu said he would reconsider if judges forced states to recognize LGBTQ marriages (which the 2015 Obergefell decision now does).

Mike Lawler 

U.S. Representative, NY-17 

• Lawler supported president Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which kicked more than 28,000 NY-17 constituents off their health care.
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP – including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Lawler voted to ban Medicaid coverage for health care for transgender youth. 
• Lawler voted to ban transgender athletes from school sports. 
• Lawler voted to prohibit service members and their families from accessing transition-related health care. 
• Lawler voted to ban schools from talking about transgender people. 
• Received a score of only 30 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Congressional Scorecard during his first term in the 118th Congress. 

Jon Husted 

U.S. Senator, Ohio 

• Husted voted to ban marriage equality in Ohio.
• Husted supported the heartbeat abortion ban: “Abortion Ban Fits In Kids Agenda.”
• Husted voted for the “One Big Beautiful Bill, will increase the number of uninsured Ohioans by 464,000.
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP – including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 

Rob Bresnahan

U.S. Representative, PA-08

• Bresnahan supported President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which kicked more than 31,000 PA-08 constituents off their health care.
• The bill also slashed programs that millions of Americans rely on like Medicaid and SNAP – including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people – to pay for a handout to the wealthy while raising costs for everyone else. 
• Bresnahan voted for a “Don’t Say Trans” bill called The Stopping Indoctrination And Protecting Kids Act.
• Bresnahan voted to ban gender-affirming care for youth by criminalizing medically necessary care.
• Bresnahan voted to restrict commanders' ability to fly Pride flags at their discretion.

Ken Paxton 

Candidate for Texas U.S. Senate 

• After the Obergefell decision, Paxton advised county clerks they could refuse marriage licenses to LGBTQ couples.
• Paxton signed an amicus brief in favor of Lawrence v. Texas, a ban on sodomy.
• Paxton demanded out-of-state medical records for families seeking gender-affirming care
• Paxton issued a legal opinion that gender-affirming care for minors could be considered child abuse.