News
Big day for gay candidates in N.C.
Brandon, Aiken face uphill fight in bids for Congress

Marcus Brandon (left) and Clay Aiken are facing primaries today in North Carolina. (Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The outcome of today’s primary in North Carolina will determine whether gay candidates in the state will carry the Democratic banner heading into the congressional mid-term elections.
Two openly gay candidates are on the ballot in congressional races: State Rep. K. Marcus Brandon, who’s running to represent North Carolina’s 12th congressional district, and Clay Aiken, who’s seeking the seat for the state’s 2nd congressional district.
Aiken has faced significant challenges during his congressional bid. Despite the buzz over his celebrity status and distinction as a runner up on “American Idol,” Aiken has raised only $287,000. Meanwhile, his opponent in the primary, former North Carolina commerce secretary Keith Crisco, has raised $680,000.
Crisco has also been hitting Aiken with negative ads. Aiken has touted his work on behalf of children with disabilities, but one Crisco ad with the slogan “No Show Clay” questions his commitment.
The ad asserts that after Aiken was appointed in 2006 to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, the singer never showed up to meet with the group. Aiken, who notes his membership on the panel on his campaign website, reportedly said in response he showed up for the first meeting of the group.
Whoever wins the election in the Democratic primary will go on to face Republican incumbent Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), who’s considered the favorite in the Republican district.
Also facing a challenging primary is Brandon, who if elected could become the first openly gay black member of Congress. He’s in a crowded primary among five Democratic candidates seeking to replace former Rep. Melvin Watt, who left Congress to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
State Rep. Alma Adams is considered the front-runner in the race. She’s raised $386,000 compared to the $254,000 that Brandon has raised, although he’s in second in terms of funds raised among the candidates in the crowded field.
The 12th congressional district is heavily Democratic, so whoever wins the Democratic primary will more than likely have the seat secured. But if no candidate secures 40 percent of the vote, which is likely, a run-off election for the top two vote-getters will take place on July 15.
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed Brandon, but Aiken received no endorsement from the group.
Another race of note is the primary for the Republican nomination to run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. House Speaker Thom Tillis, obstetrician Greg Brannon, and Baptist pastor Mark Harris are vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C), who’s considered among the most vulnerable Democrats in the mid-term election.
All the Republican candidates have expressed opposition to same-sex marriage. Hagan, who spoke out against North Carolina’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, endorsed marriage equality last year.
As QNotes’ Matt Comer reports, gay representation in the state legislature is also at stake in the primary. Openly gay candidate Ty Turner is among a field of five candidates in the primary State Senate District 40, which is near Charlotte. Gay state candidate Derek Kiszely is running Kim Hanchette in House District 49.
But even if he wins the primary, Kiszely is unlikely to win the general election because he’s running in a Republican district. That means if Turner loses in the primary, the state General Assembly will likely have no gay representation for the first time in 10 years.
Polls opened today at 6:30 a.m. and will close at 7:30 p.m.
Hungary
New Hungarian prime minister takes office
Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month
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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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.”

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.
Virginia
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month
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.
