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Details of HRC's Electoral Strategies across the Nation Top Priorities: Elect Al Gore & Win Seats in Congress |
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Compiled By GayToday
"This is by far the most competitive, high-stakes election our nation has seen in decades, and the world we live in will be dramatically shaped by the outcome of several key races," said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. "With the presidency, the House, the Senate and, ultimately, the Supreme Court up for grabs, HRC and the gay and lesbian community are diligently working to have an impact in the elections and play a decisive role in a few close races. "We must never forget that there is no guarantee for continued progress in our march towards equality," said Birch. "As five percent of the total vote, our community has an unprecedented opportunity to help control our own destiny thorough passion, hard work and an unbridled commitment to helping elect fair-minded candidates."
"One critical issue is the fact that the next president will pick nominees for the Supreme Court who will make crucial decisions that will profoundly affect our lives," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. "Al Gore has pledged to pick fair-minded individuals, while Bush has said his two favorite Supreme Court justices are the consistently anti-gay Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas." HRC has launched a campaign to help elect Gore and vice presidential nominee Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn. HRC also continues to work to register, educate and mobilize voters. During the busy spring/summer gay pride season, HRC distributed 30,000 side-by-side comparisons of the presidential candidates at nearly 70 pride events nationwide. HRC plans to distribute 350,000 of these comparisons by Election Day. In addition, many other races will determine the future of gay and lesbian equality. Up for grabs are 34 Senate seats, the entire House of Representatives (435), 11 gubernatorial races, 6,000 state legislators' races and several important state ballot measures. HRC is actively involved in many of these campaigns and has launched a huge get-out-the-vote effort to leverage the gay and lesbian community's electoral strength. HRC is involved in the following critical campaign activities, among others:
HRC has endorsed more that 200 candidates for federal office. The organization is targeting 50 races to receive additional resources because of their special importance to the outcome of the elections. Among these campaigns are six races that should serve as indicators for how well the election will go for HRC's political objectives, the organization said.
The GOP's Allen, by comparison, garnered a weak 14-percent rating from HRC during his brief tenure in the House in the early 1990s. Virginia has tilted towards the GOP in recent years, creating a tough political climate for Robb's re-election bid. HRC is working vigorously - with both financial and volunteer contributions - to help return Robb to the Senate. In New Jersey, Democratic Rep. Rush Holt is fighting for his political life in a race against anti-gay Republican challenger Dick Zimmer. Holt is a co-sponsor of ENDA and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and has signed a non-discrimination office policy inclusive of sexual orientation. Zimmer, a former House member, received a 20-percent rating with HRC in his last term. In Minnesota, anti-gay Republican Senator Rod Grams--who has a zero-percent HRC rating - is slugging it out with Democrat Mark Dayton. If elected, Dayton has pledged to co-sponsor ENDA and HCPA and is committed to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS. Among other contributions, HRC sent a staff member to coordinate HRC members in Minnesota to help defeat Grams. Rep. Jim Rogan, R-Calif., is trying to fend off a strong challenge from Democrat Adam Schiff. While Rogan received a 1999 HRC scorecard rating of 20 percent, Schiff is committed to co-sponsoring ENDA and HCPA. This race has become the most expensive House races in U.S. history. HRC has sent to the Schiff campaign a Youth College graduate and a full-time staff member to coordinate HRC membership. First Lady Hillary Clinton is in a great position to defeat her Republican opponent Rick Lazio in the New York Senate open seat. Clinton has said she will co-sponsor ENDA; Lazio has not. Clinton also supports the rights of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military; Lazio supports the failed don't-ask/don't-tell policy. A full-time HRC staff member is coordinating efforts to rally New York members on Clinton's behalf. In Minnesota, Democrat Betty McCollum is running against anti-gay Republican Linda Runbeck for the open House seat vacated by the late Bruce Vento. With a Reform Party candidate in the race, McCollum and Runbeck are in a tight political race. A full-time HRC staff member is coordinating its members to back McCollum, who is committed to co-sponsoring ENDA and a federal hate crimes measure. She also supports a fair-minded response to the AIDS/HIV crisis.
Further, HRC is contributing both financial and human resources in several states with ballot measures. Several initiatives--three anti-gay and one promoting equality--in four states are of particular concern to the gay and lesbian community. In Maine, voters will cast ballots on Measure 6, which would make it unlawful to deny a person a job, credit, housing or any public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation. HRC contributed $37,500 to help fund the campaign and sent Michael Crawford, its eastern field organizer, to Augusta to help organize volunteers and disseminate the campaign's message. In the week before the election, Liz Seaton, HRC's deputy field director, will work alongside an HRC volunteer attorney in Bangor to educate voters and help mobilize supporters of equality. HRC has also assisted the campaign with a benefit held in New York to help fund a media buy in the final week before the election. In Nevada, activists are trying to counter a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. They face an uphill organizing process, however, because proponents are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the measure. In Nevada, HRC funded a poll to help with message development and also hired a consultant to assist the campaign through Election Day in its efforts to defeat the amendment. In Nebraska, voters will vote on Initiative 416, one of the nation's most extensive efforts to ban gay unions. The measure reads: "Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in Nebraska. The uniting of two persons of the same sex in a civil union, domestic partnership or other similar same-sex relationship shall not be valid or recognized in Nebraska." HRC has contributed to this effort by financing a poll to help local activists develop their message, "416 is B.A.D.- Bigotry and Discrimination." HRC has also provided campaign training and fund-raising advice to a campaign that is working to defeat this measure. On Election Day, Oregonians will vote on Measure 9, which bans public schools from mentioning gay, lesbian or bisexual issues. Opponents of the initiative, including Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber, say it would hamper needed HIV/AIDS education in public schools. It also would restrict policies that offer counseling support to gay and lesbian students. HRC contributed $35,000 to help a campaign working against Measure 9. And HRC sent a Youth College graduate and a staff member to work on the campaign's field team. Additionally, HRC took out a full-page ad in a gay media outlet calling for Oregonians to volunteer to and vote "No on 9." |
