WASHINGTON — A leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group is making a major financial push in upcoming midterm elections, committing $15 million to challenge Republican candidates in competitive congressional races following a string of recent political defeats.
The Human Rights Campaign, among the country’s most prominent organizations fighting for LGBTQ+ equality, plans to focus their resources on eight crucial House districts that could determine which party controls Congress. Additionally, the group will back Democratic Senate candidates across Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas through advertising campaigns, community events and door-to-door outreach efforts.
“I think that this is the election that’s going to be the sea change, not only for getting to a pro-equality majority but for changing the momentum on this fight for equality,” organization president Kelley Robinson told The Associated Press. “This movement is ready for its next wind, its second wind.”
The LGBTQ+ community has faced significant challenges in recent election cycles and court battles, leaving Democratic allies searching for effective strategies to reverse course.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, Republicans eliminated various protections for transgender individuals, including military service restrictions and limitations on gender-affirming medical care for minors. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s conservative justices have supported GOP-led state restrictions while overturning prohibitions on conversion therapy practices in states controlled by Democrats.
“I believe that our movement made ourselves believe that we were closer to equality than we actually are,” Robinson explained. “The last few years, we’ve been doing an incredible amount of listening, of learning, also of repositioning this work.”
Following the 2024 presidential race, Democratic leaders debated how much LGBTQ+ issues contributed to their electoral losses. Trump’s campaign aired multiple advertisements criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for backing medical gender transitions for prisoners and emphasizing concerns about transgender athletes in women’s sports.
“Kamala Harris is for they/them,” one nationwide advertisement declared. “President Trump is for you.”
Robinson contended the advertisement succeeded due to underlying economic messaging rather than its transgender policy criticism. However, conservative commentators and some centrist Democrats believe such positions alienate moderate voters.
“There’s a real disconnect between most voters and the party elite,” noted Leor Sapir, who works with the Manhattan Institute, a conservative research organization.
“If I’m a Democrat consultant, my advice would be: Do everything in your power to keep this issue off the public agenda,” he continued.
Robinson acknowledged her organization has been examining how to develop more effective messaging strategies around LGBTQ+ rights.
“Our job is to move away from the fireballs that our opposition wants to talk about and instead find a way to get back to the things that are impacting folks every day,” she stated.
This past January, the Human Rights Campaign released messaging recommendations for countering conservative criticism of LGBTQ+ policies, highlighting successful campaigns by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
While the guidance advises candidates to “lead with your values” and “address concerns directly,” it also suggests they should “go big” and rapidly shift conversations toward everyday issues like living costs.
“I think the number one way to shut out a voter is to try to make them believe that their fears are not real. So what we coach candidates on doing is listening,” Robinson said. “For folks who have questions about the issues, that’s OK. We’re in a moment where the stakes in front of us are too high to look away.”
