Breaking: HRC endorsed candidate David Cicilline wins primary, likely to become next LGBT Member of Congress

Providence, R.I., Mayor David Cicilline has won the all-important Democratic primary in the race to represent Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District, a key victory in an overwhelmingly Democratic state.

If he wins the general election in November, Cicilline will become just the third openly gay, non-incumbent candidate to win a congressional seat, and only the seventh openly gay person to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Cicilline was endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which supports openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates for public office. Victory Fund president and CEO Chuck Wolfe hailed the win as genuine progress for LGBT Americans.

“Adding more authentic LGBT voices to Congress is a Victory Fund priority, and Mayor Cicilline’s win tonight puts us one giant step closer to doing just that. When he wins this November, he will join Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank and Jared Polis as the only openly gay and lesbian members of Congress—our greatest champions for real change and real progress toward full equality. We’re proud to have supported Mayor Cicilline throughout his political career, and thrilled about this historic victory,” Wolfe said.