LPAC announced 9 new endorsements for 2020
Washington, DC (February 10, 2020) — LPAC, the only organization dedicated to building a political presence for LGBTQ women, today announces its second round of exciting 2020 endorsements. See our full list of 2020 endorsements here.
In the US House, we are endorsing both Janessa Goldbeck and Georgette Gómez for California’s 53rd District. At the state level, we are endorsing Jamie McLeod-Skinner (Secretary of State, Oregon), Sarah McBride (Delaware State Senate), Abigail Medina (CA State Senate), Rep. Deb Butler (North Carolina State House), Ann Johnson and Rep. Julie Johson (Texas State House). At the municipal level, we are endorsing Mary Washington for Mayor of the City of Baltimore, MD.
“These candidates are a dynamic mix of women we previously endorsed running for re-election or new positions and fantastic new endorsees,” said LPAC Executive Director Stephanie Sandberg. “Our dual endorsement of Goldbeck and Gómez is testament both to their abilities and the increasing number of qualified LGBTQ women candidates stepping forward to serve.”
For the US House (listed alphabetically):
Janessa Goldbeck (CA-53):
Goldbeck is a former Marine Corps Captain and businesswoman. Before joining the Marine Corps she worked on issues of foreign aid in Washington DC. A San Diego native, her issue priorities are women’s and LGBTQ rights, campaign finance reform, and tackling the climate crisis.
Georgette Gómez
Gómez is the San Diego City Council President. She was elected to represent the City Council’s 9th District in 2016. In that race she defeated the retiring incumbent’s Chief of Staff despite being outspent 3-to-1. She was elected Council President by her colleagues in 2018. Prior to holding political office she was the associate director of the Environmental Health Coalition.
For State-level Seats:
Jamie McLeod-Skinner (OR-Secretary of State)
McLeod-Skinner is running for Oregon Secretary of State, focusing on safeguarding elections, protecting Oregon’s state lands and waterways, and building strong local communities. She served as a city councilor in Santa Clara, CA, and as a city manager for Phoenix, OR. LPAC endorsed her run for Congress in 2018 against a long-time incumbent, where she came up short but earned the largest Republican-to-Democratic swing in the country.
Sarah McBride (DE State Senate-1)
McBride is the National Press Secretary for HRC and in 2016 made history at the Democratic National Convention as the first trans person to have a major speaking spot at a major party convention. She previously worked for former Delaware Governor Jack Markell and former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden. She would be the first openly trans person in the U.S. to be elected to a state senate seat.
Abigail Medina (California State Senate-23)
Medina has served on the San Bernardino City Unified School Board since 2013. She is the Executive Director of Inland Region Equality Network, which works around environmental protections, educational improvement, and LGBTQ equality in San Bernardino. In 2016 she ran for the California State Assembly’s 40th District, narrowly losing the race to the incumbent Republican by 1%. Her campaign is focused on affordable housing, access to quality education, and environmental justice.
Rep. Deb Butler (NC State House-18)
Deb Butler is a Democrat running for re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives’ 18th District. She was appointed to the seat in 2017 and won her election to a full term in 2018. Her campaign focuses on public education, Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, and addressing climate change, air and water quality.
Ann Johnson (TX State House-134)
Ann Johnson is running for the Texas House of Representatives, District 134. Johnson is a former assistant Harris County District Attorney who moved into private practice in advance of this campaign. She created the District Attorney Office’s Human Trafficking section. Her platform focuses on women’s health and reproductive rights, Medicaid expansion, gun safety, climate change, and voting rights and redistricting.
Rep. Julie Johnson (TX State House-115)
Julie Johnson won her LPAC-endorsed race for the state house in 2018, defeating an incumbent Republican by a 14-point margin. She is now running for re-election. During the 86th Legislative Session, Johnson was appointed to the House Committee on Insurance and Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence. In 2019 she was named “Freshman of the Year” by Texas Monthly Magazine.
For Mayor:
Mary Washington (City of Baltimore, MD)
LPAC endorsed State Sen. Mary Washington’s successful run in 2018, and we are excited to support her again as she runs for mayor of Baltimore. When she was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, she made history as the first openly LGBTQ African American elected official in the state. In her nine years in the state legislature, she has distinguished herself as a leader fighting for affordable access to water, protecting families at risk of losing their homes to unfair tax sales and foreclosures, making sure Baltimore city schools got the fair and equitable funding they deserve and helping unaccompanied homeless youth get the services and support they need.