2026 Election Report

A Winning Strategy

HRC brought years of local relationships, trusted voter research and experienced organizers to the races that could shape Congress. We concentrated our work in TEN priority House districts across five states, alongside five critical Senate battlegrounds in Ohio, Georgia, Texas, New Hampshire and Michigan.

From Arizona and California to Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, our teams helped campaigns reach Equality Voters and compete for every vote.

A Winning Strategy, Continued

More races in play. More opportunities to win. 

HRC brought trusted voter data, volunteer power and research-tested messaging to the expanding battleground. We helped candidates fight back against anti-trans attacks and gave organizers the tools to reach Equality Voters. Our work helped pro-equality champions gain momentum — and made clear that standing up for our community belongs in a winning strategy.

Research + Messaging = Influence

Candidates needed a response to anti-trans attacks. HRC helped them shape it.

As campaigns faced anti-trans attacks, HRC urged candidates to stand up for our community and gave them research-tested tools to respond. Our first-of-its-kind messaging playbook helped campaigns reject scapegoating and speak clearly about freedom, fairness and the issues affecting voters’ daily lives.

We consulted directly with dozens of campaigns, as well as committees and individual candidates. Delivering guidance, training and rapid-response support — and holding campaigns to account — we helped future electeds win.

Why it matters

Marriage equality and other hard-won freedoms remain political targets, while anti-trans attacks continue to be used to divide voters and distract from the issues that matter most. HRC's research proves candidates don't have to choose between standing for equality and winning elections. Many HRC-backed candidates led with values-based messaging that protects equality, counters divisive attacks and keeps candidates focused on freedom, fairness and opportunity.

Activating 74 Million Equality Voters

A national movement behind local wins,
supporters everywhere helped shape the battlegrounds.

HRC gave supporters across the country a role in the races that mattered most. Volunteers made calls, sent texts, hosted organizing events and encouraged friends and family to vote — bringing national energy directly into competitive districts.

Wherever our supporters lived, they found a way to help win.

Beating Back Ballot Measures

Our freedoms were on the ballot. HRC fought for them.

HRC donated time, data and dollars (approximately $225,000) to five critical state ballot fights — Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Virginia and Washington. We backed local partners with funding, volunteer training and mobilization to protect our fundamental freedoms.

In an unprecedented collaboration with local partners, HRC made our proprietary Equality Voter and Trans Support Score models available to ballot initiative campaigns in Colorado, Missouri and Washington. We brought HRC’s national research and targeting tools directly into these state fights, helping partners focus voter outreach and strengthen their persuasion efforts.

Defending Democracy & Educating the Public

Our rights. Our voices. Our votes.
We helped voters navigate the process and make themselves heard.

The HRC Foundation shared practical information about registration, voting deadlines and casting a ballot with the public. Working with trusted election protection partners, we helped voters navigate confusing rules and find reliable assistance when problems arose.

HRC also kept the midterm elections visible throughout the year. The HRC National Weekly Message reached over 100,000 of our most engaged members each week with GOTV and volunteer opportunities throughout the primary season and general election campaign. And quarterly Equality magazine outreach featured our Voting Guide for Priority Races.

And HRC’s volunteer affinity groups — AANHPI & Proud, the B.L.A.C.K. Council and HRSí — reached diverse voter communities, engaged in direct voter contact and worked in coalition with local and national organizations in priority states.

HRC’s communications teams (both media and digital) worked for over a year to shape the political narratives and educate voters about the stakes for LGBTQ+ equality in the midterms. From making headlines to national TV appearances to podcasts to engaging digital content, Kelley and the team made sure our community, our concerns and our guidance were at the forefront of the national conversation.

HRC’s voter education programs reached more than 53,000 people, including direct trainings with corporate workplaces, school networks and partner organizations. This work supported the voters whose participation our democracy — and our community’s future — depends on.

Carrying the Momentum Forward

Equality never rests, and neither will we. The race to elect a pro-equality administration in 2028 starts now — and HRC is ready. We’re carrying the relationships, volunteer power and lessons of this election into the work of protecting our community and winning the fights ahead.

You helped build this momentum. Keep it moving by becoming a member, investing in our work or volunteering alongside us. Together, we’ll demand progress from the  leaders we helped elect and organize for a future where every LGBTQ+ person is free to live safely and openly.

We’re proud to endorse more than 20 trans and non-binary candidates this election season. Visit our Instagram to see the trans & non-binary candidates in your state.