Today, the Human Rights Campaign announced the endorsement of numerous pro-equality leaders for reelection across California.

Last year, the U.S. House passed the Equality Act, historic and crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's existing civil rights laws. But rather than giving LGBTQ people a fair shot, Sen. McConnell has blocked the bill from coming up for a vote. Reelecting a pro-equality House will be absolutely crucial to not only pass the Equality Act, but ensure access to quality, affordable health care is protected, common sense gun safety legislation can be considered and voting rights can be advanced.

“LGBTQ people are facing severe economic consequences from the ongoing pandemic, working with fewer protections and dealing with disproportionate consequences compared to non-LGBTQ workers,” said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “Now more than ever, we must work to ensure every American, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, has the opportunity to operate from a level playing field. These pro-equality leaders will be absolutely crucial to passing the Equality Act next year and the Human Rights Campaign will work around the clock to ensure their reelection.”

Candidates endorsed include:

• Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2)
• Rep. John Garamendi (CA-3)
• Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5)
• Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-6)
• Rep. Ami Bera (CA-7)
• Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-9)
• Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11)
• Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-13)
• Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14)
• Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15)
• Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16)
• Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17)
• Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18)
• Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19)
• Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20)
• Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24)
• Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26)
• Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27)
• Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-28)
• Rep. Tony Cárdenas (CA-29)
• Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-30)
• Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31)
• Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-32)
• Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-33)
• Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)
• Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35)
• Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-36)
• Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37)
• Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-38)
• Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40)
• Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43)
• Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44)
• Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46)
• Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47)
• Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51)
• Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52)

Previously in 2020, HRC announced the endorsements of these Californians:

• Rep. Josh Harder (CA-10)
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12)
• Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21)
• Christy Smith (CA-25)
• Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-39)
• Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41)
• Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45)
• Rep. Harley Rouda (CA-48)
• Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49)
• Georgette Gomez (CA-53)

In the 2018 midterms, HRC helped register more than 32,000 voters and recruited more than 4,200 volunteers, who worked over 8,500 shifts and clocked more than 30,000 volunteer hours. In the critical final four days of the campaign, HRC staff and volunteers in get-out-the-vote efforts alone knocked on more than 80,000 doors, and held 36,400 conversations with voters at their doors and by phone on behalf of our endorsed candidates. HRC's unprecedented grassroots mobilization worked to recruit volunteers, mobilize constituents, register voters and grow the organization's grassroots army in an all-out effort 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 will only deepen.  HRC will have at least 45 full-time staff in seven priority states and an additional 20 staff focused on a second tier of states and districts.