LOS ANGELES — California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the state’s first openly LGBTQ+ statewide elected official, won his reelection primary Tuesday night advancing to the November election.
Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, led a coalition of reproductive rights, labor and Latino organizations supporting Lara’s reelection campaign through a $600K statewide independent expenditure campaign.
Equality California released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang celebrating the decisive victory:
“Throughout his career, Ricardo Lara has been a trailblazing force for progress and a champion for consumers, the LGBTQ+ community, reproductive freedom, immigrants and our planet. We’re grateful to the millions of Californians who have sent a clear message that they want Ricardo to continue fighting for them.” “With so much at stake — LGBTQ+ civil rights, abortion access and the climate crisis — it’s no wonder that voters chose Ricardo’s bold, progressive solutions over special interest smears and misleading attacks. We look forward to continuing our work together to create a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people.”
“Throughout his career, Ricardo Lara has been a trailblazing force for progress and a champion for consumers, the LGBTQ+ community, reproductive freedom, immigrants and our planet. We’re grateful to the millions of Californians who have sent a clear message that they want Ricardo to continue fighting for them.”
“With so much at stake — LGBTQ+ civil rights, abortion access and the climate crisis — it’s no wonder that voters chose Ricardo’s bold, progressive solutions over special interest smears and misleading attacks. We look forward to continuing our work together to create a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people.”
Lara made history in 2018 as the first openly LGBTQ+ statewide elected official in California history and the nation’s first openly LGBTQ+ person of color elected to statewide office. As Insurance Commissioner, he has led efforts to protect and expand access to safe, legal abortion, HIV prevention medication and affordable healthcare; saved drivers more than $1.75 billion in auto insurance premiums and ordered insurance companies to stop non-renewals of over 2.4 million Californians following devastating wildfires; and cosponsored legislation with Equality California and Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) to outlaw insurance discrimination against people living with HIV.
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
