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Eldridge makes bid for Congress official

No mention of same-sex marriage to Hughes on campaign material

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Sean Eldridge, gay news, Washington Blade
Sean Eldridge, Chris Hughes, gay news, Washington Blade

Sean Eldridge has declared his bid for the 19th congressional district in New York (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key).

A gay advocate who had a role in bringing marriage equality to New York has made official his bid to run for Congress — although no mention of his sexual orientation or his own same-sex marriage is found on his campaign material.

In an e-mail blast and an accompanying online video sent out Monday, Eldridge declares he’s running as a Democratic candidate for New York’s 19th congressional district.

“Right now, the voices of everyday New Yorkers are being drowned out by the special interests and party politics, causing gridlock in Washington,” Eldridge says in his video. “We need an independent voice who’ll fight for us, and that’s why I’m running for Congress.”

New York’s 19th congressional district, which comprises Columbia, Delaware, Greene counties in upstate New York, was redistricted in 2012. President Obama won the district by 6.2 percent in the 2012 election.

Should Eldridge secure the Democratic nomination, he’ll run against a Republican incumbent and Iraq war veteran Chris Gibson, who scored a “0” on the Human Rights Campaign’s most recent congressional scorecard.

An opponent of same-sex marriage, Gibson has voted in favor of affirming the Defense of Marriage Act on the House floor. However, Gibson said he supports civil unions and voted in favor of LGBT-inclusive reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

In addition to defeating Gibson, a win for Eldridge in the general election would also mean he’d be the youngest openly LGBT person to win a seat in Congress.

Eldridge, who worked with Freedom to Marry to help pass the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York in 2011, makes civil rights one of his priorities on the issues section of his campaign website under the heading “Fighting for Equal Protection Under the Law.”

The section obliquely hits on LGBT issues, saying of Eldridge, “He will work to ensure that every American receives equal protection under the law and that no one is fired from their job or denied housing because of who they are or who they love.”

But with an exception to a reference to his “family,” nothing in the campaign material from Eldridge indicates he’s gay or married to Facebook co-founder and owner of The New Republic Chris Hughes. In June 2012. Eldridge married Hughes, who’s net worth has been estimated by Forbes to be more than $600 million.

Eldridge hasn’t been keeping his marriage a secret before. The couple appeared on the cover of an edition of The Advocate that included feature profile touting their work for marriage equality. They also were profiled in The New York Times.

In comparison, Gibson’s campaign website prominently features a photo of his family, children and opposite-sex marriage to Mary Jo Gibson.

The Eldridge campaign didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request to comment for this article or why any mention of Hughes is absent from the initial campaign material.

Eldridge’s candidacy for Congress has faced controversy even before it kicked off. After the New York Times initially profiled him and Hughes, another piece disclosed they had purchased a $2 million home overlooking a reservoir in Shokan, N.Y., just in January. That location would enable Eldridge to run in the 19th congressional district.

The couple purchased this home after they bought $5 million estate in Garrison, which lies in a different congressional district, just two years ago. However, the Times reported that the couple made the second purchase after the congressional district in that area became unattainable.

Asked by the Times about his move, Eldridge reportedly dismissed the suggestion it was motivated by politics and was quoted as saying, “The Hudson Valley is my home. It’s where I work. It’s where I got married.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee has already ran an attack ad against Eldridge, calling him “rich and out of touch.” It criticizes him for his allegiance to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and for alleging contributing $250,000 of his own money to elect a state senator in New York.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee defended Eldridge after NRCC ad was released, even though Eldridge has yet to receive the Democratic nomination in the race.

“While a lot of people talk about the needs to create jobs, Sean Eldridge has actually been doing it, investing in small businesses throughout the Hudson Valley and helping them to expand and create jobs,” said DCCC national spokeswoman Emily Bittner. “Sean also has a strong record promoting environmental protection and civil rights throughout New York. While some folks work tirelessly to protect tax breaks for billionaires and corporate special interests, Sean has been working to grow small businesses and fight for middle class families.”

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Hungary

New Hungarian prime minister takes office

Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month

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Péter Magyar votes in Budapest, Hungary on April 12, 2026. He has been sworn in as the country's new prime minister. (Screen capture via APT/YouTube)

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.

Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.

The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.

The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.

Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.

Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.

“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.

“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”

“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”

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Comings & Goings

Whitman-Walker honors Rep. Sarah McBride

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U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected]

Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”  

McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”

Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.” 

On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”

Wes Drummond

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman. 

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Virginia

Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan

Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month

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Virginia Supreme Court (Photo by sainaniritu/Bigstock)

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.

Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.

The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.

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