Florida has elected the first openly LGBT candidate to the state legislature. David Richardson won a Democratic primary yesterday to represent the Miami-area District 113 in the Florida House of Representatives, and faces no GOP opponent this fall.
Being the fourth largest state in the nation, Florida had been the largest state never to have elected an out state lawmaker. It is also among the largest states without significant statewide LGBT non-discrimination laws.
“David’s election sends a message to Tallahassee that LGBT Floridians will be heard. Finally, we will have an authentic LGBT voice in the state capitol who will be unafraid to speak up and speak out for fairness,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. Wolfe, a Florida native, previously served as a top aide to the late Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles.
Another Victory Fund-endorsed candidate, Joe Saunders, also won his Democratic primary to represent Florida House District 49. He now moves to the general election this November in a bid to join Richardson at the state capitol.
