HRC Endorses Warnock for U.S. Senate, Bush and Williams for U.S. House

by HRC Staff •

Post submitted by Lucas Acosta (he/him), former Deputy Director of Communications, Politics

Today, the Human Rights Campaign announced the endorsement of Rev. Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate, and Cori Bush and State Sen. Nikema Williams for U.S. House.

In 2019, the U.S. House made history by passing the Equality Act -- crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's existing civil rights laws -- for the first time. However, despite the support from over 70% of Americans including a majority of Republicans, the Equality Act was blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell has made clear he will do everything he can to roll back progress made by theLGBTQ community, including a rushed and divisive confirmation process to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion for LGBTQ equality, with someone who is likely to be anti-equality. The candidates endorsed today are crucial to holding the pro-equality majority in the U.S. House and establishing a pro-equality majority in the U.S. Senate to finally break Sen. Mitch McConnell’s stranglehold on LGBTQ rights, including passing the Equality Act and ensuring the American people have a say in the future makeup of the Supreme Court.

Newly-Endorsed Candidates include:

  • Rev. Raphael Warnock (GA-Sen)
  • Cori Bush (MO-1)
  • State Sen. Nikema Williams (GA-5)

Despite the recent Bostock decision, LGBTQ people still do not have full federal equality. The candidates endorsed today know the fight for LGBTQ equality is far from over and have committed themselves to joining with our movement to pass the Equality Act. Together, united like never before, we will expand the pro-equality majority in the U.S. House and finally remove Mitch McConnell from leadership in the U.S. Senate. The recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was a champion for equality, has only increased the stakes in this election, which is why we all must unite, like never before, and make our voices heard this November.

Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President

“For decades, from pushing Congress successfully to pass federal hate crime legislation to leading the fight for marriage equality, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has led the nation consistently closer to equality for all. I am honored to have earned their endorsement and look forward to partnering alongside HRC's work in Washington to pass the Equality Act and confirm Supreme Court Justices who will defend equal dignity for LGBTQ+ Georgians and people across the country.

Rev. Raphael Warnock

We are here to fight for every person who’s been told they’re lesser because of their gender, their orientation, who they love, and who they are. I’m proud to stand together with the Human Rights Campaign and work for a better future for all of us.

Cori Bush


I am proud to have the support of the Human Rights Campaign in my run to be the next Representative of the 5th Congressional District. I have a proven record of fighting to uplift the voices of my community regardless of where they were born, the color of their skin, where they live, or who they love. My governing principle is centering those most marginalized in our decision making process. In Congress, I will continue to be a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and work on legislation that creates a prosperous and more equitable future for all.

State Sen. Nikema Williams

In the 2018 midterms, HRC mobilized our grassroots army of 3.2 million members, supporters, and volunteers to work on behalf of pro-equality candidates and engage pro-equality voters primarily in six key states: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. This unprecedented grassroots mobilization worked to recruit and train volunteers, register and mobilize voters and grow the organization's political organizing efforts in order to pull the emergency brake on the hateful anti-LGBTQ agenda of the Trump-Pence administration and elect a Congress that would hold them accountable.

In 2020, our engagement and mobilization efforts have only deepened. In addition to our expansive volunteer network, HRC has had significant full-time staff in seven priority states (Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin) since 2017. The organization is also expanding our efforts with additional staff focused on a second tier of states. While in-person organizing has been limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, HRC has embraced digital organizing, launching a new tool called TEAM that allows our broad network of volunteers and steering committees to engage their networks personally as well as hundreds of virtual phone and text banks to engage pro-equality voters in key races.

Contact Us

To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.

Topics:
Federal Advocacy
Communities of Color