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Delaware Stonewall PAC is proud to support Sarah McBride for Delaware State Senate District 1.  We celebrate the fact that if elected she would be the first transgender individual elected to a legislative position in Delaware.  But, we are also cognizant of the fact that she is a person who has excellent qualifications to serve in that capacity.

Ms. McBride understands the District well.  She has deep roots in the District, having been born and raised there, shares the values of people living in the District, and has demonstrated through her work and passion an interest in assuring everyone is treated equally.  Her history has also shown that Ms. McBride will be working to make sure we have an affordable health delivery system which works for all.

PAC President Peter Schott says that in addition to her State credentials, “Ms. McBride, has gained respect on the National level which can only ensure that Delaware’s voice will be heard and respected nationally and we know that all of us will be proud when she is elected as the Delaware State Senator from District 1.”

Delaware Stonewall PAC has for 16 years supported and assisted candidates who support policies which have a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ Community in Delaware.

DELAWARE STONEWALL ENDORSES CANDIDATES

At a packed house at Rigby’s Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach at its 15th annual Summer fundraiser, including Senate President Pro Tempore David McBride, House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, US Senator Tom Carper and US Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, and about a dozen other elected officials, Delaware Stonewall PAC, an advocacy group for LGBT Delawarians, announced its endorsements of 31 candidates seeking office this calendar year.

Mitch Crane, the organization’s political Vice President indicated that “endorsements were based on their voting records or on their responses to questionnaires prepared by the organization.”

In addition, the organization honored retiring Representative Bryon Short for his long history of supporting and in some cases leading the charge in passing legislation supporting equality for all, and CAMP Rehoboth for its continuing advocacy work for the LGBT community.

Following is a list of endorsed candidates who as of now face no primary opposition.

State Senate candidates

Laura Sturgeon, Senate 4
David Baker, Senate 6
Stephanie Hansen, Senate 10
Bryan Townsend, Senate 11
Trey Paradee, Senate 17

State House of Representatives candidates

Stephanie Bolden, House 2
Helene Keeley, House 3
Debra Heffernan, House 6
Debbie Harrington, House 9
Krista Griffith, House 12
Pete Schwartzkopf, House 14
Valerie Longhurst, House 15
Melissa Minor-Brown, House 17
David Bentz, House 18
Kim Williams, House 19
John Bucchioni, House 20
Mike Ramone, House 21
Paul Baumbach, House 23
Ed Osienski, House 24
John Kowalko, House 25
John Viola, House 26
Sean Lynn, House 31
Don Allan, House 36

Senate Endorsed candidates facing a September 6 primary

Bobbie Cummings, Senate 2
Tizzie Lockman, Senate 3

House Endorsed candidates facing a September 6 primary

Joe Daigle, House 7
Jakim Mohammed, House 16
Renee Taschner, House 22

Delaware Stonewall PAC also endorsed some outstanding candidates who are running for Statewide offices, by endorsing Kathy Jennings for Attorney General and Kathy McGuiness for State Auditor, both of whom will face primary opponents. We also endorsed State Treasurer candidate, Colleen Davis, who has no primary opponent.

The General Election is November 6.

The Diamond State sends just one representative to Congress, and we need to send our best. This year, the voters have a very competitive choice. Every election cycle, the Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats makes endorsements throughout the State, selecting candidates for office that have exhibited courage and actively advanced equality for the extended Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community. In this race, we proudly endorse Bryan Townsend.

We have great respect for Blunt-Rochester’s and Barney’s accomplishments and candidacies. We even endorsed Barney for Treasurer in 2014 in recognition of his dedication to our cause, his intellect, and his principles. However, Townsend comes out ahead. For years, Townsend has consistently stood strongly and proudly with our community, campaigning unabashedly for our equality behind the scenes and on the streets. From his emotional pro-equality testimony on the Senate floor, to counseling struggling youth, Townsend is always there.

Importantly, he has demonstrated true partnership, working hard to respect and thoroughly understand the needs and challenges of our community. This is how he approaches all problems, and all communities, earning him respect up and down the State. Townsend has also proven himself on issues of economic inequality, opportunity, education, industry, and healthcare. These are especially important matters to us as well. For example, the LGBT community endures a higher rate of poverty than the general population due to stigmas, job /wage discrimination, and healthcare access

Given this difficult choice between excellent candidates, we must also consider who would be the most effective coalition builder and change maker for us and the State. The choice here is clear: Townsend is the bold advocate that we want and need to represent Delaware in Congress. We need to vote for the candidate who has the greatest experience addressing all of Delaware’s challenges and opportunities. We urge any voter concerned with equality for all communities to support Townsend for Congress. Likewise, we urge any voter concerned with Delaware’s future to choose the best, and support Townsend for Congress.

Joseph Daigle
President, Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats
Westwood Manor, Wilmington

Ever since its inception in 2003, Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats has been in the forefront of endorsing pro-equality Democrats. It is because of our efforts that we were able to move forward with legislation which gave us non-discrimination, marriage equality and transgender rights.

Keeping that goal in mind we are proud to announce our first endorsement of the 2016 election cycle, Joe Daigle, candidate for State Representative in the 7^th District (Lancashire, Graylyn Crest North, the Ardens, Windybush, Claymont, and Gwinhurst)