In the upcoming November midterms, New York’s third district will see the historic faceoff between two openly gay candidates, the first ever in US. If the Republican candidate Geroge Santos is elected, he will become the first Republican gay candidate in Congress.

According to data from the LGBTQ  Victory Fund 1,095 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are either running or will run for office at all levels of the US political system this year. This way, 2022 is set to be a historic year for the LGBTQ community.

Also read: US midterms: 2 openly gay candidates in race for New York’s 3rd district

Here’s a look at some of the prominent faces from the LGBTQ communities running for the 2022 midterms.

Becca Balint – Vermont

Becca Balint, the Democrat candidate from Vermont, is the first out gay candidate in the state eyeing a Congress berth in November. She won the Democrats primaries last month, and if elected, would become the first woman and LGBTQ person from Vermont to enter Congress. 

Tina Kotek – Oregon

Tina Kotek is an out lesbian politician running for governor from Oregon on a Democrat ticket. She is the first openly lesbian speaker in the US and has served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022. If she reaches Congress, she will be the first out lesbian person to do so. 

Eric Sorensen – Illinois

Eric Sorensen won the Democrat primaries from Illinois. He will be contesting from Illinois’ 17th Congressional district in the midterms. Sorensen is also the first LGBTQ community member to be contesting from Illinois. 

Also read: TikTok to verify political accounts ahead of US midterm elections

Heather Mizeur – Maryland

Heather Mizeur won the Democrat primaries on Jul 19, 2022, defeating R. David Harden by nearly 40 points to become the Democrat nominee. She will be running against incumbent Republican Andy Harris, who is reportedly a close aide of former President Donald Trump. 

Jamie McLeod-Skinner – Oregon 

Jamie McLeod-Skinner will be contesting the November midterms from Oregon’s fifth congressional district on a Democrat ticket. She made history by defeating seven-term incumbent Kurt Schrader in the Democrat primaries in the fifth district of Oregon. She will take on Lori Chavez-DeRemer on November 8.