Gay Rights Group Announce $26M Campaign Ahead of Midterms

By: Jack MacNamara, Staff Writer

WASHINGTON D.C — One of the USA’s leading gay rights groups The Human Rights Campaign, has announced that they plan on launching a $26 million political organizing campaign ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

HRC stated that the campaign will be nationwide however, the group plans on focusing its resources in certain key states such as Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

According to HRC, all six states are expected to be heavily contested Senate races next fall and each is guaranteed to be a presidential battleground for 2020.

HRC president Chad Griffin said…”The effort, which will include hiring at least 20 additional political staffers, aims to go “beyond resistance”. Drawing from the phrase used by opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration.” said Griffin. “The Human Rights Campaign will focus on fighting legislation curbing gay rights and backing “pro-equality candidates and initiatives. Resistance is really important — all of the marches and the rallies, that’s all important. But it’s also important to not only sustain that, but to take that to the next level.” said Griffin.

The Human Rights Campaign’s huge announcement comes as Democrats and liberal organization grapple with how to rebound from devastating defeats across the country in the 2016 election held back in November.

Despite Trump’s sluggish approval ratings, Democrats have failed to pull out victories in several special elections this year. However let us be clear on one thing, this is normal post a presidential election.

Take for example when President Obama was first elected president in a land slide that gave the Democrats the House and the Senate. Republicans attempted in 4 special elections following Obama’s victory, to win back seats and they all lost.

Not to mention the four special elections that the Democrats lost were all heavily and traditionally Republican districts.

Griffin added..”The Human Rights Campaign is drawing in part on its efforts last year in North Carolina, where Democrat Roy Cooper defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who signed the controversial “bathroom bill” law. There weren’t a lot of bright spots for our community in the last election but North Carolina was a milestone,” said Griffin.