The race for the U.S. Congress this year looks a lot like the race for President. Most Democrats want a return to normalcy and most Republicans have fallen in line behind President Trump. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about voting equity, LGBTQ-specific issues have, at times, taken a backseat in the campaign trail.
PGN took a look at local congressional races and what candidates have done recently to support the LGBTQ community. Unsurprisingly, most Democratic incumbents have supported LGBTQ rights through their voting record and most Democratic candidates have expressed support for the LGBTQ community on their campaign web sites. On the other side, most Republican candidates do not mention the LGBTQ community on their campaign web sites, and several have openly opposed or voted against LGBTQ rights. We looked at candidates in Pennsylvania’s 1st through 7th districts, New Jersey’s 1st through 3rd districts, and Delaware’s 1st district.
PA 1: Bucks County, Montgomery County
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R): Fitzpatrick voted yes on the 2019 Equality Act, and in 2018 he recognized the New Hope Pride Parade on the floor of congress. He received a 71 out of 100 on the latest Human Rights Campaign Congressional Scorecard, which measures support for LGBTQ issues and equality. In 2017 he co-sponsored the Fair and Equal Housing Act, which sought to provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in housing.
Christina Finello (D): Finello has stated that she will “actively work in congress to restore the rights that Donald Trump’s Administration has stripped from the LGBTQ+ community,” including reversing the transgender military service ban, allowing LGBTQ couples to adopt children, and getting the Department of Education to protect LGBTQ students against bullying and harassement. Finello has also stated she will defend marriage equality and support federal legislation to ban discrimination in housing and employment.
PA 2: Northeast Philadelphia, North Philadelphia
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D): Boyle has continually received a 100 percent score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard, which measures support for equality. He was an original cosponsor of the Equality Act in 2015, and he cosponsored the resolution again in 2019 and voted yes. He was also a cosponsor of the Do No Harm Act, which sought to prevent the Religious Freedom Restoration Act from bypassing civil rights laws. Boyle also pushed for an LGBT-inclusive hate crime law while in the PA State House.
David Torres (R): There is no mention of LGBTQ issues on Torres’ campaign website, and in a letter to the Northeast Times detailing his policy positions, he also did not mention the LGBTQ community.
PA 3: Center City, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia
Rep. Dwight Evans (D): Evans received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard, which measures support for LGBTQ issues. He cosponsored and voted yes on the Equality Act, he cosponsored the Do No Harm Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Evans has been a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community, dating back to his time in the PA State House in the early 1990s, where he voted against an anti-marriage equality resolution.
Michael Harvey (R): There is no mention of LGBTQ issues on Harvey’s campaign website or campaign Facebook page.
PA 4: Montgomery County, Berks County
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D): Dean cosponsored and voted for the Equality Act in 2019, and she received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard. She has hosted LGBTQ community leaders in her office’s Diversity and Inclusion roundtable series. In 2020 she attended the LOVE WINS Gala, hosted by Montgomery County’s LGBT Business Council. Dean has said that “Legislation is a step towards the bigger picture, which is a country that fully recognizes and supports the LGBTQ+ community.” She has also stated that every LGBTQ American should have discrimination protections, and she supported the Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, protecting LGBTQ people from job discrimination.
Kathy Barnette (R): Barnette’s campaign site does not mention LGBTQ issues. A 2010 article written by Barnette appeared in the Canada Free Press, in which Barnette writes: “Make no mistake about it, homosexuality is a targeted group in the Bible, right along with cheats, drunkards, liars, foul-mouths, extortionists, robbers, and any other habitual sin(1 Corinthians 6:10). A major problem arises when one of these groups collectively starts engaging in political paybacks, intimidating the public into silence, and using the Law to legitimatize their way of life.”
PA 5: Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County, South Philadelphia
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D): Scanlon cosponsored and voted for the Equality Act in 2019, and she received a 100 out of 100 on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard. She is a vice-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus. She cosponsored resolutions in support of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, which works to protect LGBTQ students as well as students of marginalized identities, and in support of LGBTQ Pride Month. As an attorney, Scanlon challenged discriminatory definitions of marriage.
Dasha Pruett (R): Pruett’s campaign site does not mention LGBTQ issues.
PA 6: Chester County, Reading, Berks County
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D): Houlahan is a member of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus, and she received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard. She wrote: “As a mother of a gay daughter and a believer in equality for all, I am honored to stand beside my colleagues in the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. We must continue to fight for and elevate LGBTQ voices.” Houlahan cosponsored and voted for the Equality Act in 2019.
John Emmons (R): Emmons’ campaign site does not mention LGBTQ issues.
PA 7: Lehigh County, Northampton County
Susan Wild (D): Wild voted in favor of the Equality Act and co-sponsored the to-be-voted-on Don’t Block LGBTQ Act, which seeks to amend the 1934 Communications Act barring schools and libraries that receive universal service support from prohibiting internet access to LGBTQ resources. She was endorsed by the HRC in 2020, received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard, and she serves as a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.
Lisa Scheller (R): Scheller has previously voted against providing medical benefits to the same-sex spouses of county employees. Her campaign website does not mention the LGBTQ community.
NJ 1: Camden County, Gloucester County
Donald Norcross (D): Norcross supports equal rights for LGBTQ+ citizens – he voted in favor of the Equality Act and co-sponsored the Juror Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination in jury selection in federal courts based on a variety of factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity. He is also a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality caucus, and he received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard.
Claire Gustafson (R): Gustafson does not mention LGBTQ issues on her campaign website.
NJ 2: Atlantic County, Burlington County
Jeff Van Drew (R): Van Drew voted in favor of the Equality Act, though he has often not voted for pro-LGBTQ legislation in the past. While serving in the New Jersey State Senate, Van Drew voted against same-sex marriage. Van Drew originally ran for Congress as a Democrat, but switched to the Republican party in late 2019 after announcing he would vote against impeaching Donald Trump. He received a 78 out of 100 on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard.
Amy Kennedy (D): Kennedy has listed LGBTQ equality as one of her priorities on her campaign website, vowing to co-sponsor the Equality Act if elected to Congress. She promises to address other issues that affect the LGBTQ community, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, tackling harassment and hate-fueled violence, facilitating access to healthcare and supporting LGBTQ families and veterans.
NJ 3: Burlington County, Ocean County
Rep. Andy Kim (D): Kim co-sponsored and voted to pass the Equality Act, and was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign in 2020. He supports gay marriage, and was described as a “pro-equality champion” by HRC. “Equality means everyone has access to the core American freedoms, including those in the LGBTQ community who have had their freedom denied for far too long,” Kim said in an HRC article. Kim received a perfect score on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard.
David Richter (R): Richter does not indicate his stance on LGBTQ rights on his website. He was endorsed by the American Unity Fund, a conservative group “dedicated to advancing the cause of freedom for LGBTQ Americans.” Richter said in the press release announcing the endorsement, “In Congress, I will be a strong voice for equal rights and equal opportunities for the LGBTQ community and for all Americans.”
DE 1: State of Delaware
Rep: Lisa Blunt Rochester (D): Blunt Rochester co-sponsored and voted in favor of the Equality Act, and serves as a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. In a statement on her congressional website about Pride Month, Blunt Rochester said she plans to work to rebuild the honor of service members who were unjustly discharged during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, institute protections for transgender soldiers, support ederly LGBTQ Americans and put a stop to school bullying. She received a perfect score on HRC’s latest Congressional Scorecard.
Lee Murphy (R): Murphy lists no information on his website regarding his views on the LGBTQ community.