Mark Levine (Photo courtesy of Mark Levine)

State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), one of two openly gay members of the Virginia Legislature, has endorsed one of four candidates challenging gay rights attorney and talk show host Mark Levine, who’s running for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Levine, who served as legislative counsel to gay former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), is running for the 45th District seat in the House of Delegates, which includes parts of Alexandria and smaller sections of Arlington and Fairfax counties.

Ebbin said he decided to endorse Alexandria government official Craig Fifer in the June 9 Democratic primary because “he has the skills and experience to make a difference for LGBT people and all voters in the 45th District.”

The winner of the primary is expected to easily win in the November general election in the solidly Democratic district.

Levine has said during campaign appearances that his legislative experience in Congress working for Frank on a wide range of issues and his long record of support and advocacy for progressive causes makes him the best-qualified candidate for the seat.

“I respect Adam,” Levine told the Blade on Wednesday. “But I don’t think anyone could doubt that I have done far more for the LGBT community than anyone else in this race.”

Levine points to his work in representing groups pushing for marriage equality legislation in several states and jurisdictions, including California and D.C. Among other things, Levine represented D.C.’s Gertrude Stein Democratic Club in filing a court brief opposing an effort to place D.C.’s same-sex marriage law on the ballot in a voter referendum in 2010.

The 45th District seat became open earlier this year when incumbent Del. Rob Krupicka (D) announced he would not seek re-election. None of the five candidates running for the seat have widespread name recognition. Levine’s role as a talk show host on radio and cable TV and his unsuccessful run last year for a U.S. House seat in Northern Virginia gives him more name recognition most of his opponents, according to political observers.

The other candidates, in addition to Levine and Fifer, are considered progressive Democrats who support LGBT rights. They include Larry Altenburg, Julie Jakopic, and Clarence Tong. No Republican candidate had entered the race for the GOP nomination as of this week.