All three candidates endorsed by Georgia Equality took home victories in their respective runoff races Tuesday night (November 3).
In Doraville, Joseph Geierman won the mayoral race, becoming the city’s first openly gay mayor. Van Johnson also won his mayoral race in Savannah. Kurtis Purtee will become the Alderman for District 6 of Savannah, as well, making him the first openly LGBTQ person to sit on the City Council.
Doraville Election Night Acceptance Speech
Saying a few words after learning that I had won the election.
Posted by Joseph Geierman, Doraville Mayor-Elect on Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Posted by Alderman Van Johnson on Tuesday, December 3, 2019
We are truly humbled by all the support we have received. It is amazing to see our democracy in action. This is just the…
Posted by Elect Kurtis Purtee Savannah City Alderman District 6 on Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Georgia Equality has also announced their first round of endorsements for the 2020 election cycle. The five openly LGBTQ incumbent State Representatives endorsed by Georgia Equality—in partnership with the Victory Fund are Park Cannon (HD-58), Karla Drenner (HD-85), Sam Park (HD-101), Renitta Shannon (HD-84), and Matthew Wilson (HD-80).
“We are honored to work with these amazing leaders each year to advance fairness, safety, and opportunity for LGBTQ communities and people living with HIV in Georgia,” said Georgia Equality’s executive director Jeff Graham in a press release. “We want to send a clear signal going into the 2020 legislative session that we will proudly stand with and defend these champions against any challengers.”
The organization also issued early endorsement for out candidates Kim Jackson (SD-41) and Marvin Lim (HD-99), who are running for seats opened by retiring incumbents.
“Georgia voters will have the chance to elect more openly LGBTQ incumbents and candidates than ever before when they go to the polls in next year’s elections,” Graham said. “LGBTQ voices in the legislature are critical to our efforts to pass protections from discrimination and hate crimes, to decriminalize HIV, and to ban conversion therapy.”