Brian Sims Reports Huge Campaign Haul for Penn. Lt. Governor Race

Pennsylvania state representative Brian Sims is riding momentum as he reports a record-setting fundraising haul in his bid for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor, reports the LGBTQ Victory Fund, an organization that works to elect out candidates to higher office.

Victory Fund officials didn't release specific numbers, but Sims was a money-maker from the start of his candidacy, raking in nearly $300,000 during the first six weeks of his campaign back in the spring. Sims has now reported donors from all 50 states and all U.S. territories.

The Democrat is lining up dollars ahead of the February 2022 primary; if Sims wins there, he'll compete in the general election in November 2022. Currently, the only other candidate in the race for lieutenant governor is a little-known attorney named Steve Irwin.

"If elected, Rep. Sims would become the first out LGBTQ lieutenant governor of a U.S. state and one of just nine out LGBTQ people elected to statewide office anywhere in the country," the Victory Fund notes. "Pennsylvania has never elected an out LGBTQ person to statewide office."

Sims, the first out LGBTQ+ state legislator in Pennsylvania, has made a name for himself as a vocal progressive who advocates for women's rights and LGBTQ+ causes.

Mayor Annise Parker, president & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about Sims's haul:

"Brian is a trailblazing LGBTQ elected leader with national prominence, so LGBTQ people across the country are rallying behind his historic candidacy. Pennsylvania was slow to elect LGBTQ people to public positions, but this is an opportunity for the state to leapfrog ahead and become a national leader in LGBTQ representation. Brian's election would be a milestone moment in LGBTQ political history. Yet his outspoken leadership on social justice issues would also make his election a victory for all underserved communities in the state."