LOS ANGELES — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced its official endorsement Tuesday of California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara for reelection in 2022. Lara made history in 2018 as the first openly LGBTQ+ statewide elected official in California history and the nation’s first openly LGBTQ+ person of color elected to statewide office.
Equality California — along with a strong coalition of labor unions, reproductive freedom organizations, Latino-led organizations and more — supported Lara’s successful 2018 bid and have already united behind his 2022 reelection campaign. The primary election for Insurance Commissioner will occur in June of 2022 with the two top vote-getters advancing to the general election in November 2022.
“Equality California is proud to stand with Ricardo because his bold, transformative representation has been critical to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ Californians & people living with HIV,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Chavez Zbur and Executive Director-designate Tony Hoang. “From his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic to his work to end insurance discrimination against people living with HIV, Commissioner Lara has been there for our LGBTQ+ community and for all Californians. We are ready to do everything necessary to push Ricardo onward to victory, and we look forward to his reelection.”
“I’m honored to have the support of Equality California as we fight for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals across our state,” said Lara. “Together, we’ve made so much progress, but we won’t stop until all voices are heard, respected and honored.”
Commissioner Lara has been endorsed by Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber, Treasurer Fiona Ma, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, 15 members of California’s Congressional Delegation, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, SEIU California, LGBTQ Victory Fund, Latino Victory and dozens of elected leaders and progressive organizations throughout the state.
For a complete list of Equality California’s 2022 endorsements, visit eqca.org/elections.
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