ABOVE: St. Petersburg City Councilmember Darden Rice at St. Petersburg City Hall Jan. 12. Photo by Dylan Todd.
ST. PETERSBURG | The nation’s only organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office has endorsed Darden Rice for St. Petersburg mayor.
The LGBTQ Victory Fund shared its support for 15 nationwide candidates in the 2021 election cycle Jan. 27. Rice, who would become St. Petersburg’s first openly LGBTQ mayor if elected, was among only three spotlight endorsements.
“There is no such thing as an off-election year and 2021 presents opportunities to elect groundbreaking LGBTQ candidates that can impact policy for millions of Americans,” LGBTQ Victory Fund President Mayor Annise Parker said in a statement. “We must increase LGBTQ representation not because we desire power for its own sake, but because it leads to pro-equality policies that improve the lives of LGBTQ people.”
Rice announced her historic bid for St. Petersburg mayor Jan. 12, officially launching her campaign to succeed the term-limited, longtime LGBTQ ally Mayor Rick Kriseman in 2022. She currently serves as a member of the St. Petersburg City Council and represents the city’s District 4.
“LGBTQ Victory Fund is pleased to endorse Councilmember Darden Rice for St. Petersburg mayor,” Parker explained. “Darden’s commitment to smart public policy that will address the needs of St. Pete’s residents makes her the best choice in this race.”
“I am so honored to have the support of LGBTQ Victory Fund in this historic campaign,” Rice shared in a press release. “We are so fortunate to live in a city like St. Petersburg that is so open and welcoming to the LGBTQ community.
“But we still live in a state where it’s legal to fire LGBTQ people or deny them access to public services because of who they are,” she continued. “That must change. When I’m elected mayor, I will stand against any attacks on civil rights and fight with our partners at the state level to make Florida a safer and more welcoming state for everyone.”
Rice also shared the news via social media:
Former State Rep. Wengay Newton, former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch and others have also filed to run for St. Petersburg mayor, with a primary election scheduled for Aug. 24. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the general election on Nov. 2.
For more information about Rice’s campaign, visit DardenRice.com. For more information about the LGBTQ Victory Fund, visit VictoryFund.org.
