Lauren Baer Could Become First Openly-LGBT Person Elected to Congress in Florida

Last Tuesday, Lauren Baer won the Democratic primary for Florida’s U.S. House District 18, which is comprised of the northern area of Palm Beach.

In November, she will be facing Republican incumbent Brian Mast, and she could potentially be the first LGBT person to be elected to Congress.

Speaking to the Daily Beast after she won her primary race, Baer commented on the LGBT representation on Capitol Hill, saying that “Certainly, there’s a degree of pressure there. But it’s also an incredible opportunity and an incredibly exciting position to be in, knowing that we’re going to be at the center of the kind of change that our community and our country so desperately needs.”

She also added that it is “exciting and humbling to think about being in a history-making position.”

In addition, Joe Saunders, senior political director for Equality Florida, a political advocacy group, explained that “It’s a breakthrough race for our community” because Baer, if elected, would be the first openly LGBT person elected to the U.S. Congress in the Sunshine State. Saunders also called Baer “one of the most exciting and qualified candidates running for Congress in Florida this year.”

In November, Democrats seek to hit Election Day with a blue wave.