New US Congress to Have a Record Number of Openly LGBT Lawmakers — At Least 16

Preliminary results from the November 3, 2026 US elections indicate that at least 16 openly LGBT lawmakers will serve in the new Congress — more than ever before. All are Democrats, LGBTQ Nation reports. The new congressional term begins in January 2027.

In the Senate, New Hampshire’s senator-elect Chris Pappas will join Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin, who was not up for reelection this year. Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the upper chamber. Baldwin, a lesbian, became the first openly LGBT person elected to the Senate in 2012.

Five openly LGBT candidates have been elected to the House for the first time: former Army officer Cait Conley of New York, Indiana state senator J.D. Ford, Marine veteran JoAnna Mendoza of Arizona, Michigan state senator Jeremy Moss and San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert of California.

Nine incumbent LGBT House members have also won reelection, including Sarah McBride, Becca Balint and Emily Randall. By comparison, in January 2025, at the start of the previous congressional term, Pew Research Center counted 13 openly LGBT lawmakers in Congress — one senator and 12 House members.

In California’s 11th District, state senator Scott Wiener, who is openly gay, leads the race for a House seat. As of November 5, Decision Desk HQ had not yet called that race.

Uránia previously reported on Chris Pappas’s Senate victory and the reelection of Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender congresswoman.