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U.S. Senate Candidates
Endorsed by Human Rights Campaign

14 Democrats and 1 Republican Contend in 2002 Senate Races

HRC Spending $1 Million & Endorsing 200 Political Hopefuls

Compiled by GayToday

Sen. Dick Durbin addresses the media while Sen Tom Harkin (far left) looks on. Both senators were endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign in their 2002 re-election bids

Washington, D.C.-- The nation's largest gay and lesbian political organization, The Human Rights Campaign has released its initial list of Senate endorsements which includes 14 Democrats and a Republican.

The outcome of the 2002 elections will have a significant impact on legislation promoting equality for gay and lesbian Americans, according to HRC which continues to watch races in Arkansas, North Carolina, Maine and other states.

"We are proud to endorse these fifteen terrific candidates, all of whom have been reliable advocates and allies on Capitol Hill," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. "We hope our support will help them, as they have helped us, to form a winning, bipartisan coalition in support of equality."

Thus far, HRC has endorsed the following candidates:

Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Joseph R. Biden, D-Del.; Jean Carnahan, D-Mo.; Max Cleland, D-Ga.; Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill.; Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; John F. Kerry, D-Mass.; Mary L. Landrieu, D-La.; Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Gordon Smith, R-Ore.; Robert Torricelli, D-N.J.; and Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., as well as Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Tom Strickland, D-Colo.

In the months ahead, HRC's political action committee will make more than 200 endorsements, spend $1 million and send staff members to work on key campaigns. Additionally, HRC will highlight the records of all those candidates running for the House and Senate.

Although the outcome of each race is extremely important, a few are expected to be especially noteworthy or contentious. HRC has highlighted the following Senate candidates or targeted races to watch in the upcoming 2002 elections:

Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., who is in her first term, faces a special election against Gov. Jim Talent, R-Mo., a former U.S. representative, who scored a 10 percent on HRC's scorecard for the 106th Congress. Carnahan, a cosponsor of federal hate crimes legislation and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, spoke to HRC's national boards and key leadership in October.

Democratic Sen. Max Cleland has served Georgia with a strong civil rights record including lesbian and gay equality, and has suffered discrimination personally as a paraplegic who relies on a wheelchair for mobility. Rep. Saxby Chambliss, a potential general-election opponent, scored a zero percent with HRC in the 106th Congress, and recently issued a public clarification about making offensive comments regarding Arabs.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, will be up for re-election against Republican Rep. Greg Ganske. As chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Harkin has been a lead supporter of critical HIV/AIDS programs in the federal government.

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He has also shown his commitment by supporting vaccine research at the National Institutes of Health, and was a sponsor of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act reauthorization. Additionally, Harkin is a key ally in the struggle for gay and lesbian equality and is a cosponsor of hate crimes legislation and ENDA.

New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen signed a statewide bill outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as another measure repealing the state's ban on gay adoptions.

Anti-gay Republican incumbent Sen. Bob Smith angered many of his state GOP colleagues when he temporarily left the party to run for president as an Independent. After dropping out of the race, he returned to the GOP. Smith's defection, however, earned him enough enmity that Rep. John Sununu is opposing him in the primary. Both Smith and Sununu earned zero ratings from HRC for the 106th Congress.

Sen. Gordon Smith: The only Republican on HRC's list

Sen. Gordon Smith has supported a number of HRC's key legislative priorities; he cosponsored ENDA, the Ryan White CARE Act and a bill to extend Medicaid coverage to those living with HIV. He has been a leader on HIV/AIDS issues -- in the United States and globally -- and fought hard for James Hormel's nomination to be the ambassador to Luxembourg.

Most notably, the Republican senator has galvanized support within his own party for the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act. He is a lead sponsor of the hate crimes measure, and each day enters incidents about hate crimes into the Congressional Record to highlight the problem. He also spoke at HRC's 2001 national dinner in Washington.

"Gordon Smith has earned our support by working for fairness and speaking out against discrimination," said Stachelberg. "His record shows that he is a true friend and a dependable ally who has the courage to go against the grain when necessary, and do what is right."

Another key ally is Sen. Paul Wellstone who also has worked to ensure equality for all gay and lesbian Americans -- particularly those living in Minnesota. Wellstone is known for standing up for civil rights issues time and again, says HRC. Next year, he is likely to face a formidable opponent in Norm Coleman, the Republican mayor of St. Paul.