The Log Cabin Republicans are endorsing two gay GOP candidates who are running for Congress.
{mosads}Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu and Clay Cope are running in-part on an LGBT-friendly platform. According to the Log Cabin Republicans, they would become the “first openly gay non-incumbent Republicans” elected to the House.
Babeu dropped his 2012 bid for Congress after he was outed by his ex-boyfriend, who was an undocumented Mexican immigrant. According to a recent Democratic poll, he trails Tom O’Halleran (D) by 7 points this time around.
Cope faces an uphill battle in Connecticut against incumbent Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D).
The Log Cabin Republicans represent gay conservatives in politics.
The group is also endorsing John Faso in New York, Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania, Charles Hernick in Virginia, Amie Hoeber in Maryland, Brent Sonnek-Schmelz in New Jersey, and Justin Fareed and Kenneth Wright, both in California.
“These candidates for elected office represent the future of the GOP — strong, pro-equality Republicans with a winning message and a viable path to victory in November,” Log Cabin Republicans President Gregory T. Angelo said in a statement.