Everyone knows 2024 is an election year—but it’s not enough to pay attention to the presidency. There are 33 Senate seats up for grabs, all in different states. And all 435 spots in the House of Representatives are in play. Election Day offers a major opportunity to shake things up in Congress. And since that’s where national laws are made, those races are worth paying attention to.
Over the last four years, Congress has made huge progress in expanding and protecting LGBTQIA+ rights. The Respect for Marriage Act, sponsored by New York representative Jerry Nadler, codified marriage equality—requiring every state to recognize the validity of same-sex marriage. At the same time, some legislators have proposed bills to restrict LGBTQIA+ rights—an unwelcome reminder that democracy requires vigilance, attention, and participation.
While staying engaged can feel overwhelming, it certainly doesn’t have to. To help you brush up on all the Congressional action, we’ve crafted an election guide highlighting key races to watch for LGBTQIA+ rights. This isn’t an exhaustive list. With hundreds of seats up for grabs, we’ve focused on the standouts: openly queer politicians, endorsed allies, and incumbents who’ve sponsored bills that help the queer community. We’ve also highlighted some egregious anti-LGBTQIA+ offenders who we have a chance to unseat.
We looked to the Human Rights Campaign, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the LGBT Equality PAC, LPAC, and GLAAD for guidance on who to include. Think we’re missing someone? Email us. We’d love to keep this guide updated.
U.S. House of Representatives:
Alabama voter registration deadline: 15 days before Election Day
U.S. Senate:
U.S. House of Representatives:
Arizona voter registration deadline: 29 days before Election Day
U.S. House of Representatives:
California voter registration deadline: 15 days before Election Day (online), Election Day (in person)
U.S. House of Representatives:
Colorado voter registration deadline: 8 days before Election Day
U.S. Senate:
U.S. House of Representatives:
Delaware voter registration deadline: 24 days before Election Day
U.S. Senate:
U.S. House of Representatives:
Florida voter registration deadline: 29 days before Election Day
U.S. House of Representatives:
Georgia voter registration deadline: 29 days before Election Day
U.S. House of Representatives:
Illinois voter registration deadline: 16 days before Election Day (online), Election Day (in person)
U.S. House of Representatives:
Kansas voter registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day
U.S. House of Representatives:
Louisiana voter registration deadline: 20 days before Election Day (online), 30 days before Election Day (in person)
U.S. House of Representatives:
Minnesota voter registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day (online), Election Day (in person)
U.S. Senate:
Missouri voter registration deadline: 27 days before Election Day
U.S. House of Representatives:
New Hampshire voter registration deadline: 13 days before Election Day (by mail), Election Day (in person)
U.S. House of Representatives:
New York voter registration deadline: 10 days before Election Day
U.S. Senate:
U.S. House of Representatives:
Ohio voter registration deadline: 30 days before Election Day
U.S. Senate:
U.S. House of Representatives:
Tennessee voter registration deadline: 30 days before Election Day
U.S. Senate:
U.S. House of Representatives:
Texas voter registration deadline: 30 days before Election Day
U.S. House of Representatives:
Vermont voter registration deadline: Election Day
U.S. House of Representatives:
Washington voter registration deadline: 8 days before Election Day (online), Election Day (in person)
U.S. Senate:
U.S. House of Representatives:
Wisconsin voter registration deadline: 20 days before Election Day (online), Election Day (in person)
