Voters across the United States delivered a historic victory for freedom, accountability, and democracy in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections. In state after state, Americans rejected one of the most aggressive anti-transgender campaign efforts in recent memory, proving once and for all that fearmongering against vulnerable communities is a losing political strategy.
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis emphasized the clear directive given by voters across America:
“Voters have resoundingly delivered a historic victory for freedom, accountability, and democracy. In state after state they voted for an America that looks like America, diverse in every way, including LGBTQ candidates and ballot measures.
The reality is undeniable: fearmongering about transgender people is a losing strategy. Election 2026 must go down in history as the last campaign to try it.
Voters rejected hundreds of millions of dollars in shameful campaign ads that spread disinformation about transgender people and instead elected pro-LGBTQ candidates in all contested states that aired them. The fact is, anti-trans campaigns and candidates drove voters away. Voters in Missouri rejected a harmful anti-trans ballot measure, and Virginia passed protections for marriage equality. Voters flipped control of Congress, governorships and legislatures, and elected barrier breaking candidates. As votes are counted in other ballot measure states, results show that attacking trans people is not an “80/20” issue at all but a dangerous distraction from issues voters care most about.
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The new Congress must restore its responsibility as a coequal branch of government, strengthen the law and hold the executive branch to it. Leaders must show that everyone is welcome on the bus, and that no one should ever be thrown under it. Leaders must commit to words and actions that respect and protect the most marginalized among us.
Anti-LGBTQ ballot measures were hard-fought by advocates who elevated facts, the dangerous consequences, and the humanity and dignity of their neighbors. The results show an ongoing need for more critically important conversations, and voters are listening.
A new era is underway. Voters are demanding a new politics and leaders who fight for We the People, including, LGBTQ people and families.”
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Over $187 million was spent on anti-trans campaign ads, including $78 million in Texas and $26 million in Ohio. Yet, voters rejected these tactics, choosing pro-equality candidates and defeating anti-trans campaigns in nearly every contested state where they aired.
Key Highlights from the 2026 Midterm Elections
Voters made history across the country including:
- Passing a ballot measure to enshrine marriage equality into the Virginia constitution.
- Rejecting a ballot measure in Missouri that attempted to ban both abortion and trans health care.
- Rejecting campaigns that focused on targeting transgender people, including $78 million in anti-trans campaign ads in Texas, and $26 million in a failed effort in Ohio. Candidates lost in nearly every other contested state where the ads aired as well including Iowa, Kansas, and South Carolina.
- Electing historic LGBTQ candidates to create the queerest Congress in history: Senator-elect Chris Pappas of New Hampshire; Rep-elect J.D. Ford, the first out gay man elected to Congress from Indiana; Rep-elect Cait Conley of New York and Rep-elect Marni von Wilpert of California flipped their seats to the pro-equality majority; Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont; Rep-elect Jeremy Moss of Michigan; Kim Ahern elected Attorney General of Rhode Island, the first out statewide elected official. Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Tina Kotek of Oregon were re-elected, Healey after strengthening protections for access to transgender health care and reproductive care.
- Electing historic transgender candidates: Alabama voters elected their first out transgender state lawmaker, Allison Montgomery. Washington elected the first out Black trans woman to its state House, Jaelynn Scott. MI elected an out trans woman to its state legislature, Joanna Whaley. Georgia voted in its first out trans lawmaker, Bentley Hudgens. Rep. Sarah McBride, the first trans woman elected to Congress, was re-elected.
- Electing history-making LGBTQ allies who broke other barriers, including a record number of women and women of color governors like Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia; Gina Hinojosa, the first Latina Governor of Texas; Deb Haaland, first Native American woman Governor of New Mexico; and Amy Acton as first woman governor of Ohio. Minnesota’s Peggy Flanagan will be the first Native American woman elected U.S. Senator; David Crowley of Wisconsin and Aaron Ford of Nevada will be the first Black governors of their states; Xavier Becerra will be the first Latino governor of California; Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan is the first Muslim elected to the Senate.
- Electing a pro-equality House and Senate, upending two disastrous years of single-party control of the federal government.
- Electing candidates who specifically spoke up for transgender people, like Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Sen.-elect Flanagan of Minnesota, Rep-elect Ford of Indiana, Sen.-elect Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Rep.-elect Sam Forstag of Montana, and Sen.-elect El-Sayed of Michigan.
- Votes are still being counted in other states with anti-trans ballot measures, with advocates reporting slim margins just above majority. Attacking transgender people is not an “80/20” issue.
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Detailed Breakdown: Representation & Allies Won Across America
The 2026 election created the most diverse and representative leadership in U.S. history, electing groundbreaking LGBTQ candidates and allies:
Historic LGBTQ Representation
- Chris Pappas (NH): Elected as the first out gay man in the U.S. Senate.
- D. Ford (IN): Became the first out gay man elected to Congress from Indiana.
- Sarah McBride (DE): Re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Kim Ahern (RI): Elected Attorney General of Rhode Island, becoming the state’s first out statewide elected official.
- Cait Conley (NY): Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Becca Balint (VT): Re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Jeremy Moss (MI): Re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
- Trans Allies Won Big: Candidates who explicitly stood up for transgender rights won crucial victories, including Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed (MI), Senator Ed Markey (MA), Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan (MN), Representative-elect J.D. Ford (IN), and Senator-elect Adam Hamilton (KS).
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Barrier-Breaking Allies
- Keisha Lance Bottoms (GA): Elected Governor of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman governor in U.S. history.
- Gina Hinojosa (TX): Elected as the first Latina Governor of Texas.
- Deb Haaland (NM): Elected as the first Native American woman Governor of New Mexico.
- Peggy Flanagan (MN): Elected as the first Native American woman in the U.S. Senate.
- Amy Acton (OH): Elected as the first female Governor of Ohio.
- David Crowley (WI): Elected as the first Black Governor of Wisconsin.
- Abdul El-Sayed (MI): Elected as the first Muslim member of the U.S. Senate.
- Jocelyn Benson (MI): Elected Governor of Michigan, becoming the state’s third female governor and the first to directly succeed a woman.
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Demographic Data and Voter Priorities
These midterm results align directly with broad demographic trends and voter sentiment:
- Demographics: Gallup research shows 9% of the U.S. population identifies as LGBTQ+, including 21% of Gen Z.
- Voter Priorities: A recent GLAAD poll showed that 70% of registered voters favor candidates who prioritize real issues—like lowering the cost of living and job creation—over political attacks on transgender healthcare or IDs.
The 2026 midterms mark a pivotal moment. As newly elected leaders prepare to take office, the message from voters is unambiguous: focus on solutions that protect the freedom, family, and fairness all Americans deserve.
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