WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Human Rights Campaign PAC (HRC PAC) announced its endorsement of nine pro-LGBTQ+ equality U.S. Senators for reelection — Michael Bennet, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Patty Murray, Alex Padilla, Brian Schatz, Charles Schumer, Chris Van Hollen and Ron Wyden.

In a closely divided Senate, these lawmakers cast key votes in the historic confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court and Pete Buttigieg as our nation’s first openly LGBTQ+ cabinet secretary. They helped pass the American Rescue Plan to support the economy during the pandemic and the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which makes lynching a federal crime, and they voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. They also support important legislation that the nation still needs, such as the Equality Act, which will enshrine protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ people, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, American Dream and Promise, and voting rights reforms to protect the nation’s democracy.

HRC PAC is committed to engaging our volunteers, members and supporters to mobilize the almost 62 million Equality Voters in the United States in support of these and other pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot.

Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison released the following statement:

“Maintaining and expanding the pro-equality majority in the U.S. Senate is of utmost importance this November in order to defend the progress we’ve made and push for more. The first step toward growing that majority is to return this group of leaders, all of whom have shown a commitment to backing legislation that helps all people, regardless of their political orientation, to the Senate. They have been defenders of our democracy, and allies for marginalized communities. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to support their candidacies and looks forward to seeing the great work that is possible, with their leadership, in the years to come.”

HRC’s Commitment to Mobilizing Equality Voters

Equality Voters 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.

Endorsed Candidates

US Senator Michael Bennet (CO) for re-election

US Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) for re-election

US Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) for re-election

US Senator Patty Murray (WA) for re-election

US Senator Alex Padilla (CA) for re-election

US Senator Brian Schatz (HI) for re-election

US Senator Charles Schumer (NY) for re-election

US Senator Ron Wyden (OR) for re-election

US Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) for re-election

Previously Endorsed 2022 US Senate Candidates:

US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) for re-election

US Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) for re-election

US Senator Mark Kelly (AZ) for re-election

US Senator Raphael Warnock (GA) for re-election

Cheri Beasley (NC) for US Senate

Val Demings (FL) for US Senate

Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org).

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.