New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu, a Republican, is considered vulnerable in his re-election bid; he rated a 33 out of 100 in HRC's congressional scorecard in the 109th Congress. (Photo by Jim Cole/AP)
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JOSHUA LYNSEN
Friday, September 28, 2007
Gay activists are taking an early interest in five 2008 U.S. Senate races, hoping to oust opponents of gay rights and assist allies.
Also a priority for the Human Rights Campaign and other gay organizations is replacing retiring Sens. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and John Warner (R-Va.) with politicians who support gay measures.
Warner and Allard both received zeros on the most recent HRC congressional scorecard.
“As we think about where we are legislatively right now — trying to get hate crimes through in the Senate, the possibility of an employment non-discrimination bill coming up in the Senate — I think we have more work to do in terms of adding more fair-minded allies,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.
Activists are eyeing for defeat two senators who have mixed records on gay issues and are widely seen as politically vulnerable: Sens. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.).
HRC gave Coleman 22 of 100 on its scorecard for the 109th Congress, while Sununu got 33 of 100.
Resources also will be marshaled to help Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), considered a gay ally, retain what could become a hotly contested seat. She scored 88 or higher during the last three sessions of Congress.
Clyde Wilcox, a government professor at Georgetown University, said the five seats could be among the most competitive Senate races in the nation.
But wins in each race, he said, would be significant victories for gays who look to Democrats to advance their legislative goals.
“It would be a net gain of four seats for Democrats and put them at 55,” he said. “With the help of some liberal Republicans in the Senate, that would be enough votes to exercise a little muscle.”
Observers say the Colorado contest is a marquee race for gays because it could trigger one of the nation’s greatest political changes.
Among those running to succeed Allard, who sponsored a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between a man and a woman, is Democratic Rep. Mark Udall, whom HRC gave perfect scores during the last three sessions.
“I can’t think of a better friend to the community than Mark Udall,” Solmonese said. “The idea that you could, in a state like Colorado, replace Allard with someone like Udall, that’s an example of these Senate races going in the right direction for our community.”
Pat Steadman of Equal Rights Colorado agreed. He said HRC was wise to endorse Udall.
“I do think the political climate here in Colorado suggests that this is a key Senate race to participate in,” he said. “Our state has been changing from red to purple to blue, and I think this is clearly an opportunity to strengthen the pro-equality numbers in the United States Senate.”
Udall’s probable Republican opponent is former Rep. Robert Schaffer, whom HRC gave a zero during his final session in Congress.
An unreleased GOP poll cited by race observers shows Udall leading Schaffer, 45 percent to 40 percent, but the numbers could not be verified.
Gays in Virginia are hoping for a similar turnabout in the race to replace Warner.
Dyana Mason of Equality Virginia said former Gov. Mark Warner, who announced this month plans to seek the open seat, would represent a significant step forward.
Mark Warner, a Democrat who’s unrelated to the Republican senator, used his gubernatorial powers in 2005 to make it illegal for state agencies to discriminate against their workers because of their sexual orientation.
“He was the first governor in Virginia to include sexual orientation in that executive order,” Mason said, “and that was a very significant milestone for us in the state.”
Mark Warner is well positioned in the race. His main Republican opponents, former Gov. Jim Gilmore and Rep. Tom Davis, trail him by 20 points in separate polls conducted this month by Rasmussen Reports.
But his record on gay issues is mixed. In recent years, he’s opposed marriage equality and civil unions, supported allowing gay couples to enter into private contracts that grant each other rights and opposed a state constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Solmonese said it’s therefore unclear how strongly Mark Warner is willing to support gay issues.
“We would be, I assume, beginning a different kind of conversation with someone like him than we would with someone like Udall, who has a very clear record on our issues in the House,” he said.
Mason said Mark Warner would nonetheless be a step forward for gay Virginians.
“While he wasn’t out in front on our issues,” she said, “he was always willing to sit down with us and talk with us about the things that we were concerned about.”
Not all races involve plans to replace congressional foes with friends.
Solmonese said HRC is planning to lend a hand to Landrieu, an important ally from Louisiana, as she wages what could be a tough campaign to retain her seat.
“This is a race that is going to be a top priority for us,” he said. “She has been a great incumbent and we want to make sure she stays that way.”
Political observers, including Wilcox, have described Landrieu as the Senate’s most vulnerable Democrat. She won a close race in 2002, but lost many supporters in the residential flight following Hurricane Katrina.
Randy Evans, political director at Forum for Equality, said many gay Louisianans are expected to stump for Landrieu.
“I think the LGBT community has to be very happy with her voting record in Congress,” he said. “I know there is great enthusiasm for her re-election.”
Evans said support for Landrieu is growing in part because former state Rep. Tony Perkins, who now heads the anti-gay Family Research Council, could enter the race. Perkins sought the seat in 2002.
“He is obviously an opponent to anything we would consider to be good,” Evans said. “He’s basically David Duke without the white sheets.”
Gay rights activists have taken an early interest in five Senate races, including two that feature the retirement of staunchly anti-gay senators and three that involve vulnerable incumbents. |
 Sen. Wayne Allard (R) • Colorado
HRC Score: 0 of 100 in 109th Congress.
Gay Rights Positions: Supports a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Doesn’t support ENDA or hate-crimes legislation.
Seat Status: Allard announced in January that he would keep his pledge to serve just two terms, making this year his last. Seat contenders include Republican Bob Schaffer, a former U.S. representative, and Democratic Rep. Mark Udall. HRC gave Schaffer 0 of 100 in the 107th Congress; Udall scored perfectly in the 109th Congress. |
 Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) • Louisiana
HRC Score: 89 of 100 in 109th Congress.
Gay Rights Positions: Opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Supports ENDA and hate-crimes legislation.
Seat Status: Landrieu, who was narrowly reelected in 2002, is widely considered the Senate’s most vulnerable incumbent because many loyal Democratic voters left the state following Hurricane Katrina. Former state Rep. Tony Perkins, who now heads the anti-gay Family Research Council, could enter the race. |
 Sen. Norm Coleman (R) • Minnesota
HRC Score: 22 of 100 in 109th Congress.
Gay Rights Positions: Supports a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Does not support ENDA. Supports hate-crimes legislation.
Seat Status: Coleman, who has mixed approval ratings, is considered to be another vulnerable senator.
But analysts have given Coleman a slight edge against Al Franken and Mike Ciresi, who are among Coleman’s potential Democratic opponents. |
 Sen. John Sununu (R) • New Hampshire
HRC Score: 33 of 100 in 109th Congress.
Gay Rights Positions: Opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Doesn’t support ENDA or hate-crimes legislation.
Seat Status: Sununu could lose his seat if New Hampshire, traditionally a swing state, continues to back Democrats. Voters handed Democrats control of the state House and Senate in 2006, and could give the party a U.S. Senate seat in 2008. Contenders include former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, who one poll showed easily winning the seat. |
 Sen. John Warner (R) • Virginia
HRC Score: 0 of 100 in 109th Congress.
Gay Rights Positions: Supports a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Doesn’t support ENDA or hate-crimes legislation.
Seat Status: Warner announced last month that he would not seek reelection, stepping down after five terms in office. Possible replacements include former Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore and Rep. Tom Davis, a Republican who HRC gave a 0 of 100 in the 109th Congress. Former Gov. Mark Warner leads the Democratic candidates. |
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Perkins, who has not announced an intention to run, did not immediately respond to the Blade’s request for comment.
At the opposite end of the Mississippi River, several Minnesotans are ready to challenge Coleman.
The incumbent Republican’s main opponents are comedian-turned-politician Al Franken and prominent trial attorney Mike Ciresi, although other Democrats are running.
Solmonese said gay Minnesotans have not yet coalesced around a single candidate, but many are backing Franken, who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples.
“It’s basically Al’s position that two people of the same sex being granted those rights does nothing to threaten his marriage,” said Andy Barr, a Franken campaign spokesperson. “So he’s for equal rights in marriage.”
Barr said Franken also supports the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act and gays serving openly in the armed forces.
Leslie Sandberg, a Ciresi campaign spokesperson, said her candidate wants gay couples to have “the same legal and economic rights” that married couples enjoy and opposes the Defense of Marriage Act.
Sandberg, a lesbian, said Ciresi supports ENDA, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act, and gays serving openly in the armed forces.
She noted Ciresi helped former Air Force Capt. Richard Richenberg challenge “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
in 1996, and last year won a legal
battle to empower a suburban Minneapolis high school’s gay-straight alliance student group.
“There’s a difference between talking about change,” she said, “and working toward it in your career.”
Such credentials could make a difference on Election Day. Monica Meyer, public policy director at OutFront Minnesota, said Coleman has poorly represented Minnesotans on gay issues.
“I think that we’re looking at a new era in the movement for LGBT rights,” Meyer said. “Sen. Coleman should look at the fact that he’s going to be fighting against people who are very strong on LGBT issues.”
Also facing a tough battle to retain his Senate seat is Sununu.
Hailing from a state that voted Democratic in 2006, the New Hampshire Republican has a mixed record on gay issues. He voted against a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, but failed to support other gay issues.
Solmonese said HRC has not identified Sununu as a target for 2008.
“I wouldn’t call John Sununu a target,” he said. “I think of targets as people both to help and people to potentially take out.”
But the organization could yet become involved in the race. Sununu has yet to cast his votes this session on ENDA and hate crimes.
Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat who this month announced she would challenge Sununu, is expected to become his main opponent. A poll by American Research Group in June showed her leading, 57 percent to 29 percent.
Shaheen, as governor, signed into law measures that barred discrimination against gays in the areas of employment and housing, and repealed a ban on adoptions by gays.
Despite an early trend among gay groups to support Democrats, Solmonese said HRC will maintain a bipartisan scope with its endorsements.
He said the organization expects to back Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Collins, whom polls show an early favorite to win her race, supports many gay issues.
“We haven’t made that endorsement yet,” Solmonese said, “but we will be working toward supporting her re-election effort as well.”
Wilcox said gay groups are wise to make allies on both sides of the aisle, because those friendships will pay dividends in Congress.
“These are not necessarily partisan issues,” he said. “And to block a filibuster, Democrats need some Republicans to cross over.”
Solmonese said gay voters helped elect allies from both parties in 2006 — and must do the same in 2008.
“There’s a partisan consequence to our agenda,” he said, “but I think we also could certainly use more fair-minded friends on either side of the aisle if we’re going to be successful with the baseline we have in the Senate right now and move forward to the next step in our work.”
The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force declined to comment for this article.
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