Openly Gay Candidate Wins Virginia Senate Primary

Since 2004 House of Delegates member Adam Ebbin has been the sole openly gay member of the Virginia General Assembly which, as readers might correctly surmise, is anything but a progressive and equality minded elected body. Indeed, I suspect most of the Republican members of the General Assembly would be all too happy roll the legal scene back to around 1811 rather than 2011. Ebbin decided that as a member of the Virginia Senate he could do more for promoting progressive issues. The Washington Blade looks at Ebbin's primary victory. Here are some highlights:

Expected to be the biggest hurdle on the way to the Virginia Senate, gay member of the House of Delegates, Adam Ebbin, defeated both of his primary opponents in Tuesday’s primary in the heavily Democratic 30th district.

Ebbin will now face off in November against Republican nominee Tim McGhee, a web-designer and small business owner. Ebbin is ready to transition into the general election mode.

“There will be many more people to reach, people of different political parties and independents. It will still be an undertaking to meet as many people from the different communities in the district that I should meet.”

Ebbin has represented the 49th District in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2004, and has been a progressive voice in state politics during his time in office. Ebbin has received numerous endorsements recently including from Equality Virginia, Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Associations.

Ebbin is also quite ready to take his energy and passion to the Senate. “I think I’ll be able to get more done if we can hold the majority,” Ebbin said of his future senate career. “I think I will have more bills pass. And I will continue working on a number of things that I believe in, including nondiscrimination, the environment and other issues such as prenatal care, and protections for seniors and those who need assistance.”

Ebbin’s top legislative priorities in the Senate will make his progressive constituents very happy, saying, “renewable energy, transit, and non-discrimination in state hiring would be among the first.”

It goes without saying that the Republican Party of Virginia opposes just about everything that Ebbin supports.