Tammy Baldwin, Nation's First Out Senator, Reelected in Wisconsin

America's first, and currently only, LGBTQ senator is reelected to a second term.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

Read Full Bio

Neal Broverman

November 06 2018 9:19 PM EST

May 31 2023 8:02 PM EST

Nbroverman

Sorry to interrupt...
But we wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading. Your support makes original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Help us hold Trump accountable.

One-time Monthly

$19.67 $50 Other

$5 $19.67 $50

Fending off a Republican challenger bankrolled by the Koch brothers, Tammy Baldwin was reelected as Wisconsin's junior senator.

The wealthy Koch brothers poured at least $10 million to defeat Baldwin, but she prevailed against GOP state senator Leah Vukmir. Proudly running as a progressive, Baldwin was able to capture enough votes in Wisconsin's rural environs to secure a victory -- Wisconsin was one of the midwestern states that Donald Trump shockingly won in 2016.

Baldwin is the first, and only, openly LGBTQ person to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

"The reelection of Senator Baldwin was among the LGBTQ political community's highest priorities this election cycle, so to see this champion of equality handily defeat her anti-LGBTQ opponent is phenomenal," Mayor Annise Parker, president & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund said in a statement.

"Six years ago, Senator Baldwin became a historic first and redefined what is possible for an LGBTQ candidate seeking a career in public service, and tonight's victory provides a different but equally important political lesson. It proves that an out LGBTQ candidate who unapologetically uses their political power to fight for equality can be reelected statewide in the era of Trump, even in a state that Trump won.