SACRAMENTO — Today the Human Rights Campaign PAC (HRC PAC) announced its endorsement of California Governor Gavin Newsom for reelection. HRC PAC is committed to engaging our volunteers, members and supporters to mobilize the nearly 12.2 million Equality Voters in California in support of Governor Newsom and other pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot.

Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President, Policy & Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof released the following statement:

“At a time when extremist elected officials are rolling back LGBTQ+ rights in other states, Governor Newsom’s leadership has been critical to protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in California. First as the Mayor of San Francisco and now as the Governor of California, he has been a tireless champion of equality for all Californians and a national leader in the fight to keep LGBTQ+ rights from being rolled back elsewhere. As one of the most pro-equality governors in the nation, Newsom has prioritized advancing the freedoms and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and the Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse him for reelection. ”

Governor Gavin Newsom released the following statement:

“Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, who they love, or where they live. Starting with my time as Mayor of San Francisco and now as the Governor of California, I’ve worked to build a better future for Californians, especially our kids. Under my watch, California will continue to prioritize freedom and equality for all – even as extremist politicians in states across the country attempt to roll back LGBTQ+ rights. I am honored to receive this endorsement and am committed to continuing to work together to expand opportunities and justice for all.”

As Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom stood up for marriage equality even when it was prohibited by law. Now, as Governor of California, Gavin Newsom has been steadfast in building a California that is more just and equal for all. In his first term, Governor Newsom has solidified LGBTQ+ rights, eliminated laws that unjustly punished LGBTQ+ youth, and extended protections for transgender Californians.

HRC’s Commitment to California

Equality Voters, including the nearly 12.2 million in California, are a voting bloc of demographically and geographically diverse Americans who are united by the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality. Equality Voters are younger, more racially diverse, and more female than the general electorate, they recognize and trust the HRC brand, and they are more likely to identify with issue-specific organizations than candidates or political parties.

Across the country, HRC PAC works every day to elect pro-equality leaders who support policies that will support the rights and lives of LGBTQ+ people. During the 2020 election cycle, HRC staff on the ground recruited 5,800 individual volunteers nationwide who completed 28,500 hours of voter contact in more than 2,650 volunteer events. HRC engaged in robust digital and online GOTV efforts, including sending over 2.7 million person-to-person text messages, a massive increase from 2018 when approximately 500,000 texts were sent. HRC sent over 2.5 million mail pieces, had over 930,000 phone conversations with voters, and engaged more than 200,000 voters through HRC’s voter dashboard at hrc.org/vote.