Your Queer Election Guide - Spring '22

If you follow pop culture, you would assume there are elections only every four years and then we’re done with all of that until the next quadrennial elections. You’d be wrong. There are vitally important elections every single year, twice a year at that. LGBTQ people and all marginalized communities don’t have the luxury of ignoring State and Federal elections like more privileged folks do. Not when these very elections can touch our communities directly and especially with the continued war on trans youth that has also come to Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania primary elections on May 17, 2022 can and will have a direct impact on our communities and the issues that are most pressing: accountability and demilitarization of the police; gentrification, affordable housing, and the mass displacement of communities of color; the continuing epidemic of violence toward trans people of color. The recent leak of the Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v Wade has only doubled or tripled the importance of this election.

With all of that, here is your queer guide to the 2022 Primary Elections on May 17th:

When is the election?

The Pennsylvania 2022 Primary Election is on Tuesday, May 17th. Polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. You can find your polling place here.

Who’s on the ballot?

Which races and candidates appear on your ballot will depend on where you live and are registered to vote. You can view a sample of your ballot, the races you can vote in, and the candidates to choose from here.

Who should I vote for?

While we can’t tell you who to vote for, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats have put together a list of their recommended candidates outlined below. While we respect the recommendations of the SCSD we do note some caveats to their recommendations.

The Steel City Stonewall Democrats work to sensitize and educate all candidates and officeholders, Democratic Party leaders, and the community at large to the issues and concerns of the LGBTQIA+ community. View their full recommendations here.

US Senate

The Steel City Stonewall Democrats recommend Conor Lamb to represent Pennsylvania as one of our two Senators, however, Lt. Governor John Fetterman has been a long-time ally of the LGBTQ Community here in Western Pennsylvania and across the Commonwealth, and State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta is an out and proud member of the LGBTQ Community.

US House of Representatives 12th District

Summer Lee

US House of Representatives 17th District

Sean Meloy

Governor

Josh Shapiro

Lt Governor

The Steel City Stonewall Democrats recommend Austin Davis for Lt. Governor, however, State Representative Brian Sims, is an out and proud member of the LGBTQ Community. You’ve probably seen him on Instagram.

PA Senate 38 District

Lindsey Williams

PA Senate 42 District

Wayne Fontana

PA House 19 District

Aerion Andrew Abney

PA House 20 District

Emily Kinkead

PA House 21 District

Sara Innamorato

PA House 23 District

Dan Frankel

PA House 24 District

Martell Covington

PA House 25 District

Brandon Markosek

PA House 27 District

Dan Deasey

PA House 30 District

Arvind Venkat

PA House 33 District

Mandy Steele

PA House 34 District