Openly bisexual candidate Kyrsten
Sinema, a former state senator, on Tuesday won her congressional
primary in Arizona. She defeated state Senator David Schapira and
Andrei Cherny, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton.
Sinema now moves to the general
election, where she will face Republican rival Vernon Parker, a
Paradise Valley councilman. Parker narrowly beat out 6 Republican
opponents.
If elected in November, Sinema would
become the first openly bisexual member of Congress.
Sinema's campaign is endorsed by the
Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest gay rights
advocate, and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which supports
openly LGBT candidates.
“Kyrsten is a proven leader who
stands up for what's right and knows how to get results,” Chuck
Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, said in
a statement. “We're extremely proud of her hard-fought victory
tonight and commitment to helping bring her authentic, outspoken
voice for LGBT equality to Capitol Hill in November.”
Arizona's newly drawn District 9 covers
parts of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa
and Ahwatukee Foothills. Independents outnumber Republicans and
Democrats in the district.
(Source: The
Arizona Republic.)