News
9 races to watch as gays run for Congress
Baldwin seeks to become first openly gay senator
U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D—Wisc.) is in a tight race against her state’s former governor, Tommy Thompson, for the state’s seat in the U.S. Senate. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
A record number of openly gay candidates running for Congress will face their critical test on Tuesday as many — including U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin — are seeing polls tighten as Election Day approaches.
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A total of nine openly gay, lesbian and bisexual candidates are seeking office in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. With the retirement of gay Rep. Barney Frank, openly LGBT representation in Congress will look very different after next week.
Baldwin’s race is the most high-profile among these candidates because she’d be the first openly gay person elected to the U.S. Senate and the outcome of the race against Republican former Gov. Tommy Thompson may determine which party controls the chamber after the election.
Denis Dison, a spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said all eyes will be on the race because — following the spike in polls that Baldwin enjoyed after her speech at the Democratic National Convention — the contest has become increasingly high-profile and competitive due to spending from outside conservative groups.
“I know groups like Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity — also the U.S. Chamber [of Commerce] — I think the total amount is about $13 million they have spent on ads attacking Tammy,” Dison said. “That has caused the race to get very close.”
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For her part, Baldwin made public on Oct. 30 her closing TV ad showing workers and families as well as footage of her campaigning with former President Bill Clinton.
“One big difference between Tammy Baldwin and Tommy Thompson is that she stood up to the special interests, and he’s stood up for them,” Clinton says in a voice over. “If you put people first, it works better than trickle-down economics.”
Another race that will be closely watched is Massachusetts’ 9th congressional district — where gay Republican challenger Richard Tisei seems poised to beat Democratic incumbent Rep. John Tierney.
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New York’s 18th congressional district is another race of interest to the LGBT community. Gay Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney is seeking to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth, who has a pro-LGBT record in Congress and the backing of gay conservative groups.
In a statement to the Washington Blade, Maloney said the LGBT community should rally behind him because Hayworth has aligned herself with conservative groups.
“Tea Party Congresswoman Nan Hayworth doesn’t believe that my family is equal to hers or that members of the LGBT community deserve equal protection under the law,” Maloney said. “I think folks around the country, LGBT and otherwise, are tired of this extreme ideology.”
9 gay candidates to watch this election day
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
REP. TAMMY BALDWIN
Race: U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin
Opponent: Republican former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson
Significance: Baldwin, a Democrat, would be first openly gay person elected to the U.S. Senate.
Polls: 10/28 Rasmussen Reports — Thompson 48, Baldwin, 47; 10/22 Mason-Dixon — Baldwin 47, Thompson, 45.
Richard Tisei (Photo courtesy of Tisei campaign)
RICHARD TISEI
Race: U.S. House seat in Massachusetts, District 6
Opponent: Incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. John Tierney
Significance: Tisei would be the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress as a non-incumbent and the only out Republican serving on Capitol Hill.
Polls: 10/1 Boston Globe — Tisei 37, Tierney 31.
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
REP. DAVID CICILLINE
Race: U.S. House seat in Rhode Island, District 1
Opponent: Republican challenger Brendan Doherty
Significance: Cicilline, a Democrat, is pursuing his first re-election effort since becoming the fourth sitting openly gay member of Congress in 2010.
Polls: 10/10 Brown University — Cicilline 46, Doherty 40.
Sean Patrick Maloney (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
SEAN PATRICK MALONEY
Race: U.S. House seat in New York, District 18
Opponent: Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth
Significance: Maloney, a Democrat, would be the first openly gay member of Congress from New York State.
Polls: 10/19 Siena College — Hayworth 49, Maloney 42.
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Mark Pocan (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
MARK POCAN
Race: U.S. House seat in Wisconsin, District 2
Opponent: Republican candidate Chad Lee
Significance: Pocan would replace Baldwin in the U.S. House.
Polls: The district is widely considered a Democratic safe seat and Pocan is expected to win.
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
REP. JARED POLIS
Race: U.S. House seat in Colorado, District 2
Opponent: Republican challenger Susan Hall
Significance: Polis is set to become the most senior openly gay member of the U.S. House.
Polls: The district is widely considered a Democratic safe seat and Polis is expected to win re-election.
Kyrsten Sinema (Photo courtesy of Sinema campaign)
KYRSTEN SINEMA
Race: U.S. House seat in Arizona, District 9
Opponent: Republican candidate Vernon Parker
Significance: Sinema, a Democrat, would be the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress.
Polls: 10/16 Summit Consulting Group —Parker 44, Sinema 42.
Mark Takano (Photo courtesy of Takano campaign)
MARK TAKANO
Race: U.S. House seat in California, District 41
Opponent: Republican candidate John Tavaglione
Significance: Takano, a Japanese-American Democrat, would be the first openly gay person of color elected to Congress.
Polls: 8/21 EMC Research — Takano 42, Tavaglione 38
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Nicole LeFavour (Photo courtesy of LeFavour campaign)
NICOLE LEFAVOUR
Race: U.S. House seat in Idaho, District 2
Opponent: Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson
Significance: LeFavour, a Democrat, isn’t endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
Polls: The district is widely considered a Republican safe seat and Simpson is expected to win.
Maryland
‘Girlfriends’ wanted for murder in Silver Spring, Md.
Montgomery County police say two charged with killing mother of one of them
The Montgomery County, Md., Department of Police announced on June 4 that it is seeking the public’s help in locating two women, who they identify as a couple, who are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing the mother of one of them.
In a statement police identified the two women as Vanessa Tjongarero-Henderson of Clarksburg, Md., and her girlfriend Samantha Raebel of Phoenix, Ariz. The statement says the two are charged with the murder of Hilde Henderson, 67, the mother of Vanessa.
According to the statement, officers with the department’s 3rd District found Hilde Henderson deceased on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at her home at the Charter House apartments in the 1300 block of Fenwick Lane in Silver Spring after being called to check on the resident’s welfare.
“Henderson was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where an autopsy was conducted,” the statement says. “The cause of death was ruled a homicide.”
It adds, “Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified Henderson’s daughter, Vanessa Tjongarero-Henderson and Vanessa’s girlfriend, Raeble, as the suspects.” It says detectives obtained an arrest warrant against the two women, charging both with first-degree murder.
“Anyone with information regarding the location of these suspects or this crime is asked to call 911 or to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, Md. website at crimesolversmcmd.org,” the statement says, or to call the tip line at 1-866-411-8477.
“Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000,” it says, adding that tips may remain anonymous.
A spokesperson for Montgomery County police didn’t immediately respond to a request from the Washington Blade for information not disclosed in the police statement, including the physical-medical cause of death for Hilde Henderson and whether detectives have determined a motive for the murder.
National
Madonna turns Times Square into massive dance floor
Pop icon celebrates Pride month with surprise performance
Pop icon Madonna celebrated Pride month with a pop-up performance in New York City’s Times Square on Thursday to the delight of 50,000 fans.
She performed for about 15 minutes high above street level, including several songs from her new album “Confessions II” due on July 3, along with a trio of songs from the first “Confessions on a Dance Floor.”
In addition to the brand new “Love Sensation,” she performed “I Feel So Free” and “Bring Your Love,” plus “Hung Up,” “Get Together” and “I Love New York.” She wished the crowd a happy Pride season; the event was shared with audiences through Grindr’s first-ever livestream.
The Washington Blade this week welcomed Emma LaPointe as its summer intern.
Emma is studying journalism, political science, and German studies at the University of Arizona. She is from Tucson, Ariz., and is interning with the Blade as part of a continued partnership with the Washington Center.
“I am super excited to spend my summer with the Washington Blade and to learn more about D.C.,” said Emma. “I have loved reporting on the LGBTQ+ community back in Tucson, and I am excited to continue the work here.”
Emma’s internship will end on July 31.
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