Today, HRC announced its endorsement of Congressman Matt Cartwright for re-election to Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.

“Matt Cartwright has been a strong advocate for Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ community and HRC is proud to endorse him for re-election,” said HRC Pennsylvania State Director Allison VanKuiken. “We need Matt Cartwright in the House to continue fighting for the civil rights of Pennsylvanians and all Americans. We look forward to turning out the pro-equality vote in his district, and to continuing our work with him in the fight for full federal equality.”

“I am honored to work with the Human Rights Campaign to achieve equality for all Americans, and I am honored to receive their endorsement for Congress,” said Matt Cartwright.

Since joining the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, Matt Cartwright has been an advocate for LGBTQ equality. Cartwright supports marriage equality and is a cosponsor of the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s civil rights laws. Since being elected, Cartwright has received a perfect score every year on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard, which measures members of Congress on their support for LGBTQ equality and policies.

In Pennsylvania, HRC has identified more than 2.3 million “Equality Voters” -- voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies, including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Pennsylvania in the 2018 cycle, and has already put four staff members and resources on the ground in the state. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.