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Latest story Sep 23, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026

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Credibility

Not enough stories yet: 8 of 10.

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Political lean

Not enough stories yet: 8 of 10.

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Originality

77%of 17 hosted stories are not confirmed copies of another outlet’s article

17 stories · updated Sep 24, 2026

How this is measured

Writing quality not enough rated stories yet: 8 of 10. How it is measured

Scores last checked Sep 25, 2026.

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Stories credited to Advocate.com, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.

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Month	Stories	All outlets
November 2025	1	77
December 2025	1	27
January 2026	1	87
February 2026	0	180
March 2026	2	1,094
April 2026	2	4,537
May 2026	0	none collected
June 2026	0	none collected
July 2026	0	none collected
August 2026	0	1 (collection gap)
September 2026	6	598

Who they cover

Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 12 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 18 story–official pairs, from 13 stories.

Democrat56% · 10 pairs
Republican28% · 5 pairs
Party not recorded17% · 3 pairs

Most covered

Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 13 stories.

+ 2 other officials (2 story–official pairs)

Article tone

ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not Advocate.com’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 13 stories.

Good Look: 6 (46%)
Mixed: 6 (46%)
Informational: 0 (0%)
Bad Look: 1 (8%)

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Articles served from advocate.com

Nothing to see here? DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin shares a D.C. home with a Republican congressman

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has reportedly shared a Washington, D.C., home with Rep. Jason Smith for three years, renewing speculation about the two men. Mullin, a former professional fighter, met Smith, the Missouri Republican who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, while leading bipartisan congressional workouts, The New York Times reported in 2014. The workouts also included former Rep. Aaron Schock, an Illinois Republican who came out as gay after leaving Congress. Mullin has called Smith his best friend in Congress. Sources close to Mullin told the Daily Mail last week that he has lived with Smith in a row house near Capitol Hill for the past three years. Lawmakers sometimes share housing in Washington, and Mullin represented Oklahoma in the Senate for much of that period. The arrangement reportedly continued after his confirmation as Homeland Security secretary. “It's strange that a cabinet secretary still has a roommate," one source told the Mail. “Maybe it's because he is so rarely in DC since he flies home so often. He literally uses it as a crash pad.” Related: Senate confirms brawler Markwayne Mullin to lead Homeland Security Department after Kristi Noem See on Instagram Mullin’s financial disclosure lists a separate Washington residential property held through Mullin Realty LLC and valued at $1 million to $5 million. It reports rental income from that property. Mullin reportedly pays rent to live in Smith’s home. The disclosure does not explain his housing choice. Mullin oversees agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Related: In Markwayne Mullin, Pete Hegseth has a competitor in bravado, masochism, and queer hate Smith chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. He was a close ally of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, another member of the workout group. Smith also became the target of a personal attack by former Rep. Matt Gaet

Sep 23, 202610 votes

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is weirdly 'obsessed' with Alyssa Edwards

This story originally appeared on Out. "Ken Paxton seems to be obsessed with my client, Alyssa Edwards," declared Dallas publicist Waylon Tate in social media posts on Tuesday, referring to the Texas attorney general who is running to replace Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Edwards, of course, is the RuPaul's Drag Race season 5 and All Stars 2 alum from Mesquite, Texas, aka 46-year-old drag artist Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson. Paxton's "obsession" is evident in his recent social media posts, in which he's been dragging his Democratic opponent, front-runner James Talarico for daring to name his favorite drag queen. "What normal person can name their favorite drag queen this quickly?" is the caption on Paxton's post on X on Sept. 14, accompanied by a video of Talarico answering that question at a campaign event. "When James Talarico isn’t advocating for children to dress in drag, he’s watching drag performances and saying that Texas produces the best drag queens. James Talarico is too weird and too radical for Texas." On Tuesday, Paxton doubled-down with a new post, targeting Edwards herself topped with a "VIEWER WARNING:" "Meet Alyssa Edwards: James Talarico’s favorite sick and twisted drag queen." The video mixes Talarico's answer with clips of Edwards performing, including in front of and with young children whose faces are blurred. It ends with an ominous full-screen message in black and red, all-caps: "James Talarico: Too Weird, Too Radical for Texas." This was enough for Tate, Edwards' rep, to step in. "Alyssa's name is being used as political ammunition in a U.S.-centered race she isn't running in," he said in Tuesday's post on Instagram and Threads. Tate goes on to explain his responsibility as a public relations agent, and what he called "the part of PR nobody really sees." "Sometimes I write a statement and sometimes I make the phone call, sometimes I tell a client we're not touching this," said Tate. "And sometimes I watch the same politician repeatedly u

Sep 23, 202610 votes

Lauren Boebert calls reporting on alleged same-sex relationships ‘filthy garbage’

Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert denied having same-sex relationships and castigated the media covering an ethics complaint alleging she had relationships with staffers in a video she posted to social media on Sunday. “I hate to spoil the fan fiction, but y’all need to do better,” she said in a video posted on X. But the Colorado congresswoman only vaguely addressed allegations from the sworn ethics complaint, filed by David Wheeler of American Muckrakers and first reported by the Colorado Times Recorder. Related: Lauren Boebert denies alleged relationships with staffers: ‘I’m not a lesbian or bisexual’ Wheeler, who runs the American Muckrakers political action committee, alleged Boebert had sexual relations with two women, former district director Clarice Navarro and current chief of staff Raven Finegan, and one man, former Chief of Staff Jeffrey Small. The complaint also says Navarro was paid a $200,000 settlement after informing the congresswoman she intended to file her own complaint with the House Committee on Ethics. Boebert, though, stressed Wheeler has made dubious claims about her in the past, including when the super PAC published a photo of a different woman in a bed and falsely identifying her as Boebert, as reported by CNN in 2022. “You are all aware that this is coming from the same desperate hack CNN caught in 2022 publishing a photo of another woman as me, and also failing to prove a host of other lies that he's created about me. You ran this story anyway,” Boebert said in her video. “This is more filthy garbage that reaches beyond me. This reaches into the homes of people who have dedicated years of service to Coloradans alongside of me. I know that you're more than willing to attack me and shame my household, but this is different, and you crossed a line. I hope you think about the impact that this could have on them and their families.” Related: Lauren Boebert involved in physical fight with ex-husband in Colorado restaurant Boebert also sp

Sep 21, 202618 votes

Lauren Boebert rages against same-sex relationship allegations, sparking hilarious memes

This story originally appeared on Out. A deluge of internet memes flooded social media over the weekend as news broke that Rep. Lauren Boebert was accused of having a sexual relationship with staffers she supervised, some of whom were women. The accusations came to light after a complaint was filed with the House Committee on Ethics on September 17, which included three staffers she oversaw, one of whom Boebert allegedly paid $200,000 in hush money in an attempt to keep the relationship secret. The sworn ethics complaint, filed by David Wheeler of the political action committee American Muckrakers, identified three current staffers —former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, district chief of staff Raven Finegan, and former chief of staff Jeffrey Small — Boebert allegedly had sexual relationships with, according to reporting from the Colorado Times Reporter. Boebert released a video responding to the allegations on September 20, calling the complaint “sloppy, desperate, obsessive hack stamps under oath on a fake filing,” and a “scam.” “This is more filthy garbage that reaches beyond me. This reaches into the homes of people who have dedicated years of service to Coloradans alongside me,” Boebert said. “I know that you’re more than willing to attack me and shame my household, but this is different, and you crossed a line.” Boebert, who previously went viral for fondling her companion’s genitals during a showing of the family-friendly Beetlejuice musical, seems aware of the avalanche of social media reactions these allegations caused, adding, “I hate to spoil the fan fiction, but y’all needed to do better. To the rest of y’all, no, I’m not hiring.” The Colorado Republican denied the allegations, calling them “utterly false” and a “politically motivated stunt” in a statement released to multiple media outlets and also sent a statement to the political blog Sources Say News, denying that she’s part of the LGBTQ+ community. “Well, I’m not a lesbian or bise

Sep 21, 202610 votes

Lauren Boebert denies alleged relationships with staffers: ‘I’m not a lesbian or bisexual’

Rep. Lauren Boebert is publicly refuting a complaint filed with the House Committee on Ethics on September 17 which alleged that the Colorado congresswoman had sexual relationships with three staffers she supervised, including two women, and paid $200,000 in hush money in an attempt to keep one of the relationships secret. “Congresswoman Lauren Boebert rejects these allegations as utterly false and there is no truth to them whatsoever,” a representative for the lawmaker wrote in a statement to multiple media outlets on Saturday. “This is nothing more than a politically motivated stunt designed to manipulate the ethics process, create headlines, smear her, and generate clickbait." The sworn ethics complaint, first reported by the Colorado Times Recorder, was filed by David Wheeler of the political action committee American Muckrackers and identified three current and former staffers, claiming that Boebert had relationships with former district director Clarice Navarro Ratzlaff, district chief of staff Raven Finegan and former chief of staff Jeffrey Small. The complaint claims that the six-figure hush money payment was issued to Navarro to disincentivize her from filing an ethics complaint. Related: Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert Dates Bar Owner Who's Hosted Drag Shows Navarro, who worked under Boebert from 2021 to 2025, denied the substance of the complaint to the Recorder, writing, “These allegations regarding me are entirely false, defamatory, and beyond ridiculous. There is absolutely no truth to any part of this claim.” Navarro’s ex-husband, Jace Ratzlaff, appeared to suggest he believed the relationship took place when contacted by American Muckrackers, reportedly saying, “I assumed this would eventually surface, I’ll have no further comment on this topic.” The complaint primarily focuses on an alleged relationship between Boebert and Navarro, laying out a timeline of joint travel and claiming that $200,000 was paid to the staffer in 2025 “to secure her si

Sep 20, 202620 votes

Republican congressman gives WNBA (meaningless) deadline to define 'women'

This story originally appeared on Them. Indiana House Rep. Marlin Stutzman is demanding that outgoing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert define “woman” in the league’s eligibility rules. In a letter to Engelbert obtained by Fox News’ sports vertical OutKick, Stutzman and other members of Congress questioned Engelbert’s leadership when it comes to the question of trans athletes. The letter accuses the league of “repeated failure to protect the players in your league.” The letter, signed by Stutzman as well as legislators Sherri Biggs, Erin Houchin, John Rose, and Zach Nunn, calls out the WNBA for failing to define “women” in its eligibility standards, which allows any woman to be a part of the professional women’s league. “As a women’s sports league, the WNBA must ensure the League remains exclusively for biological women,” the letter reads, per OutKick. “As Sophie Cunningham has commented, women should not have to face biological men playing in the WNBA. Opening eligibility to biological men would not only create an unfair advantage but would also risk player safety for the women playing in the WNBA.” The letter specifically cites the cases of former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, both of whom announced their intent to register in the WNBA draft as women on August 7. The WNBA ruled both White and Freedom ineligible to be in the WNBA in late August. Citing the WNBA’s decision to ban Freedom and White, Stutzman wrote, “This action indicates the League certainly understands the biological difference between men and women, and has even gone so far as to enforce that distinction when deciding eligibility.” The Republican-written letter speaks not only on the WNBA’s eligibility rules, but also comments on recent issues around fouling at games, highlighting a flagrant foul called on DiJonai Carrington for making contact with Sophie Cunningham’s face at an August 8 game. The letter also draws attention to a verbal exchange between Freedom and Chicago

Sep 18, 202611 votes

JD Vance conjures the devil in false attack on LGBTQ+ charity during Kansas speech

Vice President JD Vance reached for satanic panic Monday while campaigning in Kansas, falsely describing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as devil worshipers and mangling the group’s name in the process. Vance appeared at a MAGA Inc.-organized rally at Webco Manufacturing in Olathe to support Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who faces the Rev. Adam Hamilton, a prominent United Methodist pastor and Democrat, in November. State Senate President Ty Masterson, the Republican nominee for governor, also attended, according to the Kansas Reflector. Vance attacked Hamilton because Resurrection, the church Hamilton founded, was among dozens of sponsors of Kansas City PrideFest. Related: JD Vance really wants you to know he's 'not gay' while lying about transgender youth Hamilton “proudly supported a drag group called Our Ladies of Perpetual Indulgence,” Vance claimed. No organization by that name exists. He apparently meant the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the 47-year-old volunteer network of queer and transgender nuns. Vance called the Sisters “the devil worshiping group that was saying special blessings before LA Dodgers games” and an “anti-Christian hate group.” Practically every element of that description was false or unsupported. The Sisters do not worship the devil. Their stated mission is community service, human rights advocacy, spiritual outreach, and combating shame and bigotry through humor. The organization has raised money for community nonprofits and became an early provider of sex-positive safer-sex information during the AIDS crisis. The Dodgers did not invite the Sisters to bless baseball games. The team honored the Los Angeles chapter with a Community Hero Award before its June 16, 2023, Pride Night game, recognizing its charitable work. Catholic leaders and conservative politicians opposed the honor because the Sisters satirize Catholic imagery — criticism Vance inflated into a tale of devil worship. Related: How JD Vance went from thi

Sep 16, 202612 votes

Sarah McBride sails toward reelection after advancing unopposed in Delaware Democratic primary

U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride secured the Democratic nomination for a second term representing Delaware on Tuesday without facing a primary challenger. By Wednesday, she was back to emphasizing the work rather than the history. McBride, the first out transgender person elected to Congress, will face Republican Joseph “Dr. Joe” Arminio in November for Delaware’s sole U.S. House seat. Decision Desk HQ called the Republican primary for Arminio at 9:11 p.m. Tuesday. He received 18,629 votes, or 47.86 percent. John Whalen III, the party’s 2024 nominee, finished second with 12,523 votes, or 32.17 percent. Earl Cooper received 7,772 votes, or 19.97 percent. Related: Sarah McBride opens up about her darkest day in Congress (exclusive) Arminio, a Wilmington native and political scientist, campaigned largely on inflation, public and private debt, and housing affordability. He previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Maryland in 2008. McBride entered the primary unopposed after launching her reelection campaign with an endurance test that doubled as a political argument: visiting Delaware’s 10 cities, 44 towns, and three villages in 57 hours. The Advocate reported in July that the tour reflected McBride’s effort to be judged less as a symbol and more as Delaware’s congresswoman, with a record centered on affordability, federal investments, and constituent service. Her first public message after the primary followed that pattern. On Wednesday, McBride highlighted her participation in Monday’s groundbreaking for the Delaware Container Terminal at the Port of Wilmington. Related: Sarah McBride went everywhere in Delaware and heard the same warning at all 57 stops “The funding for this exciting next chapter — partly secured by our Congressional Delegation, past and present — represents an investment in economic opportunity for our neighbors, stronger supply chains, and the capacity of Delaware to continue leading in international commerce,” McBride wrote on Instagram. “Bot

Sep 16, 202612 votes

Gay congressional candidate Chris Gallant won’t be shamed out of midterm race over BDSM photos

A gay congressional candidate whose fetish modeling drew right-wing media attention has responded to the coverage, saying he will not be shamed out of his race for Congress. Democratic candidate Chris Gallant, an Army veteran and New York Army National Guard Black Hawk pilot running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, called the coverage of his past modeling for Mr. S Leather a political attack. Rupert Murdoch's New York Post first published the story. “By now, you've probably seen the stories and the pictures, but let's be clear about what this is. This is a coordinated political hit meant to drive me out of the race, and this represents everything that is wrong with our politics today,” Gallant said in a video message posted on social media. “The establishment is clinging to power, mudslinging as a means of skirting accountability at the ballot box. Look, I am very proud of who I am, and I won't be shamed into silence, and I won't allow my private life to be distorted and weaponized against me.” Related: Gay congressional candidate goes viral for X-rated BDSM ads VoteVets has endorsed Gallant in his campaign against LaLota, who has campaigned on promises to “protect girls’ sports” while describing himself as an ally to LGBTQ+ communities. Gallant said voters should care more about his military service record than photographs taken when he was younger. He did not disavow the modeling photos, instead describing himself as a political outsider who has spent his adult life serving his country. “I am not a politician, actually, far from it. But I've been fighting for this country since I first enlisted in the Army at 17 years old,” he said. “I wasn't scared flying Black Hawk helicopters in the Middle East. And I sure as hell won't let some pictures from my past scare me out of this race. So hear me when I say this: I'm in this to win. I've never been one to back down from a challenge, and I'm not backing down now. Thank you for all of the ongoing support

Sep 16, 202612 votes

Kash Patel grilled about 'bestiality' within the FBI during bizarre Senate hearing

This story originally appeared on Out. On Capitol Hill, we expect to hear dry policy discussions and heated debates about the latest group Republicans have decided to strip of their rights, but there is one word most Americans probably didn’t think would ever be uttered in he halls of Congress: bestiality. That changed today when Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) questioned FBI Director Kash Patel about a recent policy change involving having sex with animals. During a Senate committee hearing, Kennedy grilled Patel about his agency lowering its hiring standards to allow people who have engaged in sex work or bestiality to be selected as new trainees. The FBI argued that the recent shift in hiring policy is meant to stop victims of human trafficking from being unfairly penalized if they had been forced into those acts. “It automatically disqualified any individual who participated on either side of it. Obviously we were never going to hire the criminal,” Patel explained to Kennedy. “This side of what? The bestiality? So you disqualified the animals?” This logic seemed to stump Kennedy, known for his deadpan, folksy demeanor. The Republican from Louisiana also went viral back in 2023 for reading out explicit gay sex scenes from George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren’t Blue and Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on book banning. “Well, we have great canines, but we’re not going to disqualify…” Patel said, before Kennedy asked, “I’m trying to understand why you did this. Why would you even get into bestiality?” “We are not into bestiality,” Patel replied with a smirk. “I know you’re not, but you changed the qualifications and mentioned bestiality,” Kennedy said. “If Joe participated in bestiality, not as the animal but as the human, don’t you think he ought to be disqualified?” “If he voluntarily did it, sure, but if he was trafficked into it,” Patel said, then Kennedy replied, “How do you involuntarily do it?” @ivehaditpodcast You cannot

Sep 15, 202610 votes

Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin snag Pelosi LGBTQ+ Ally Award. They warn of ‘authoritarian takeover’

Lisa Rinna has never been especially interested in softening her language. Two years ago, she warned that the United States was flirting with authoritarianism. Now, she says, it’s no longer flirting. “We’ve ended up in a really bad place,” Rinna told The Advocate in an interview on Tuesday. Rinna and her husband, actor Harry Hamlin, will be honored this summer with the 2026 Nancy Pelosi Equality Ally Award from Equality PAC, the political arm of the Congressional Equality Caucus. The award recognizes public figures who have demonstrated sustained commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. It will be presented in June at the group’s National Pride Gala in Washington, D.C. “Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin represent the very best of what allyship looks like in action,” Equality PAC co-chairs Rep. Mark Takano of California and Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York said in a statement. “Across decades of groundbreaking work on screen, they have not only helped shape our culture, but consistently used their voices to affirm the dignity, humanity, and rights of LGBTQ people.” “Their support has been proud, unwavering, and deeply meaningful to a community that continues to fight for full equality,” the congressmen added. Related: Lisa Rinna says same-sex marriage is under attack and Americans will 'lose democracy' if Trump wins Related: Welcome to our annual convening of the gay Mafia': Equality PAC celebrates 10 years Previous honorees include Eugene Levy, Ted Danson, and Mary Steenburgen. For Rinna, the recognition also carries personal meaning. “I think she’s a rockstar, icon, amazing,” Rinna said of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, for whom the award is named. “So I think just to go and be given this award, it just means a lot.” The recognition comes after decades of mainstream success for both performers. Rinna became a household name on Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place before later joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, earning a Soap Opera Digest Award and multiple Daytime Emmy nominations as a host. She recently made headlines as an original traitor on Peachock’s The Traitors. Hamlin rose to prominence on L.A. Law and in films such as Clash of the Titans, and later earned an Emmy nomination for Mad Men. But both say the honor reflects something beyond their work on screen. Rinna described the current political moment as one that demands urgency. “Harry and I discuss it constantly,” she said. “Why aren’t people just talking about the authoritarian takeover that’s happening right in front of our eyes? Why aren’t we just talking about that?” Related: Inside the plan to double the number of LGBTQ+ members of Congress (exclusive) Related: Equality PAC raises big bucks for 2024 House Democratic frontliners at debate day fundraiser In a 2024 interview with The Advocate’s sibling publication PRIDE, Rinna warned that the country risked losing its democratic foundation. That warning, she said now, feels less like speculation than reality. “The big agenda, the thing that’s going on, is a full-on Hitlerian authoritarian takeover of the greatest brand ever created in human history, which is the United States of America,” Hamlin told The Advocate on Tuesday. “And we’re losing it.” For him, the mechanism is rooted in a familiar politics of fear. “To demonize minorities, that’s the playbook,” Hamlin said. He pointed to the targeting of transgender people, alongside immigrants and other marginalized groups, as central to that strategy. “It’s all about creating fear around the other,” he said. “Right now, the other is trans people, it’s gay people, it’s minorities, it’s Black people, and it’s immigrants.” Related: Eugene Levy reflects on fatherhood with a gay son, ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ and strategic allyship Rinna said that in a moment like this, people with public platforms have a responsibility to raise their voices. “I just try to speak out, speak my mind, support, and stand up for everyone that doesn’t have the same voice or is too fearful to do it,” she said. “A lot of people won’t take that stand.” Her connection to the LGBTQ+ community, she added, is personal. “Some of my very best friends in life are gay and trans, and they are so special to me. They’re like family,” Rinna said. “So I feel very strongly about protecting the underdog always.” Standing up for LGBTQ+ people, she said, is not strategic. “They have been the most supportive of me in my career, and I just think that it’s my job to give back.” Hamlin said he has been watching global politics closely, pointing to Sunday’s election in Hungary as both a warning and a source of cautious optimism. Voters ousted longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after more than a decade in power, rejecting a system widely criticized for curbing press freedom and advancing anti-LGBTQ+ policies. The race drew international attention, including a visit from Vice President JD Vance, who traveled to Hungary to rally support for Orbán and amplified President Donald Trump’s backing of the embattled leader. After the loss, Vance downplayed the result, calling it disappointing but not consequential. For Hamlin, the outcome sparked optimism. “That shows us that we can reverse this trend, that we can take our country back,” he said, calling the result “a harbinger of wonderful things to come.” But he also stressed the timeline. “What happened in Hungary took more than 10 years,” he added. Hamlin argued that silence now is not neutral. “When our kids or our grandkids ask, ‘What did you do at that moment when democracy was being stolen?’” he said, “that’s the question.” His own commitment, he noted, dates back decades. In 1982, Hamlin starred in Making Love, a film about a married man who comes to understand he is gay and falls in love with another man. At the time, Hollywood had little appetite for stories centered on same-sex relationships. “At the time, nobody wanted to touch it,” Hamlin said. “But it was something that needed to be expressed, discussed, talked about.” “If we can make enough noise so that people recognize that this is another step toward making the LGBTQ community completely accepted,” he added, “then we’ve done our job.”

Apr 15, 20267 votes

Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin snag Pelosi LGBTQ+ Ally Award. They warn of ‘authoritarian takeover’

Apr 15, 20267 votes

How a Democrat's House win in Nebraska could erase the ‘blue dot’ & harm LGBTQ+ rights

A closely watched congressional race in Nebraska is becoming a flash point not only in the battle for control of the U.S. House, but in a broader fight over LGBTQ+ rights. At issue is Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, the Omaha-based swing seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Don Bacon. Democrats view the district as one of their strongest pickup opportunities in 2026. But as Politico first reported, one possible Democratic victory scenario could also help Nebraska Republicans advance anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and eliminate the state’s “blue dot,” the single Electoral College vote Democrats have captured in recent presidential elections. The stakes are heightened by a crowded and competitive Democratic primary. As Nebraska Public Media reported, at least half a dozen Democratic candidates are vying for the seat, including business leader Denise Powell, former federal official Kishla Askins, Douglas County court clerk Crystal Rhoades, and others, in a race drawing national attention and significant fundraising. Powell led the field in fundraising heading into 2026, while multiple candidates have sought to distinguish themselves in a contest seen as critical to Democrats’ chances of retaking the House. Nebraska and Maine are the only states that split electoral votes by congressional district. Nebraska’s system allows the Omaha-based 2nd District to award one electoral vote separately from the statewide winner, creating the “blue dot” Democrats carried in both 2020 and 2024. Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter. The dilemma centers on Democratic candidate and state Sen. John Cavanaugh. If Cavanaugh wins the House seat, he would have to resign from the Nebraska Legislature, where he represents a heavily Democratic district. Under Nebraska law, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen would appoint his replacement, who could serve until 2028. Nebraska’s legislature is unique in the United States: a single-chamber, officially nonpartisan body made up of 49 senators. In practice, however, party alignment shapes key votes, and small shifts in membership can determine whether lawmakers can sustain or break filibusters. Related: After 30 years in uniform, a veteran in Nebraska who survived ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is running for Congress That matters because Nebraska Republicans are only a few votes short of advancing measures that have stalled in the legislature, including both winner-take-all presidential voting and bills targeting LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender Nebraskans. According to the American Civil Liberties Union’s legislative tracker, Nebraska has multiple anti-LGBTQ+ bills under consideration this year, part of the more than 500 such bills the organization says it is tracking nationwide in 2026. In Nebraska, those measures fall into categories including health care restrictions, public accommodation bans, and “re-definition of sex” proposals that seek to legally define male and female in ways that exclude transgender and nonbinary people from recognition under state law. A Republican-backed effort to move Nebraska to a winner-take-all Electoral College system stalled in the Legislature this week after a filibuster, dealing a blow to Pillen and his allies. The measure did not have enough votes to overcome Democratic opposition, the Nebraska Examiner reports. One Democratic strategist involved in Nebraska politics sharply criticized Cavanaugh’s candidacy in those terms. “Time and again, when given the chance, Republicans have attacked the rights of the LGBTQ community, causing lasting damage,” the strategist told The Advocate. “John Cavanaugh knows what is on the line, and he knows that a Republican governor would appoint his replacement in the Legislature. Any politician who puts their own career ambitions first, like Cavanaugh is doing — especially during this moment in history — is no ally.” Cavanaugh’s campaign rejects that argument, saying Democrats can flip the Omaha-based House seat without sacrificing their leverage in Lincoln. Still, the broader concern raised by advocates and some Democrats is less about intent than consequence. The Nebraska Examiner reported that late-session Republican efforts to pass two major anti-transgender measures failed on Tuesday. One proposal would have banned certain gender-affirming medical care for minors, while another would have restricted public bathrooms to use based on sex assigned at birth. Both measures were revived through last-minute amendments but ultimately fell short of the legislative deadline. “Democrats must take back the House in November to stop Trump, and Cavanaugh is the candidate most likely to flip this seat blue,” Katie Bartizal, Cavanaugh’s campaign manager, told The Advocate. Bartizal said Republicans currently lack the votes needed to override filibusters in the Nebraska Legislature and argued that Democratic gains elsewhere will offset any vacancy created if Cavanaugh wins. “To block anything in the Nebraska Legislature you need 17 votes. Currently, there are just 16 Democrats in the Legislature, meaning Nebraska has the blue dot and blocked some anti-LGBTQ+ bills because a handful of Republicans voted with Democrats,” Bartizal said. “With strong local candidates running in key seats, historic investment from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the deep unpopularity of MAGA Republicans, and Cavanaugh running a strong campaign that will uplift legislative candidates, Democrats will pick up at least two legislative seats in November, more than making up for the loss of Cavanaugh’s seat." Bartizal added, "Democrats do not have to choose between protecting the blue dot and flipping NE-02 blue.”

Apr 9, 202611 votes

Advocate newsletter 3/30/26

Queer entertainers spoke out this weekend about the difficulties and dangers of being Black and LGBTQ+ in America in 2026. Ts Madison spoke to CNN about how simply being a visible trans person is a form of activism. “We’re living in a climate right now where the erasure of trans people… seems as if it’s been priority number one in this administration,” she said. And Billy Porter told MS NOW that Trump's attacks on cultural institutions threaten the work of queer and Black artists, noting, "... I crashed through glass ceilings that were concrete. And I have noticed the opportunities slowly drying up for the work that I do.” We have those stories and much more in today's newsletter. Don't forget that time is running out to subscribe to The Advocate / Out in print in time to receive our special Pride Month issue. Get 6 issues for just $6 if you subscribe by Wednesday. Until next time, The Advocate team Billy Porter says work is drying up for Black & queer artists in Trump's America Entertainer Ts Madison calls out Republicans’ anti-trans politics of fear Backlash grows after Pete Hegseth alters military general promotions list South Carolina Senate passes bill restricting transgender students’ bathroom use Democrat Chris Pappas in dead heat with John Sununu in New Hampshire Senate race Cities in Texas and Florida install new rainbow walkways as Republicans crack down on Pride crosswalks This gay economist running for Congress in California makes his case on the economy Our Pride Month special is here! Get a year-long subscription to The Advocate / Out for just $6.

Mar 30, 202620 votes

Christopher Wiggins wins GLAAD award for Advocate cover story on Sarah McBride

Christopher Wiggins, politics and news editor for The Advocate, has earned the 2026 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Online or Print Journalism Article for his profile of Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the first out trans member of Congress.

Mar 6, 202611 votes

Sarah McBride demands Trump administration release severely disabled Delaware resident from ICE custody

U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride, Delaware’s at-large Democrat, on Monday demanded that federal immigration authorities immediately release Victor Acurio Suárez, a Sussex County resident with a disability who was ordered deported last week.

Jan 27, 202613 votes

Sarah McBride demands Trump administration release severely disabled Delaware resident from ICE custody

Jan 27, 202618 votes

Sarah McBride says GOP should protect Americans’ health coverage, not criminalize trans kids’ medical care

On the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, a Democrat representing Delaware, framed the U.S. House’s impending votes on criminalizing transgender people’s health care as a measure not only of policy, but of political intent — a decision, she said, to elevate ideology over science and cruelty over care.

Dec 17, 20256 votes

Sarah McBride says GOP should protect Americans’ health coverage, not criminalize trans kids’ medical care

Dec 17, 202515 votes

Sarah McBride says GOP should protect Americans’ health coverage, not criminalize trans kids’ medical care

Dec 17, 202520 votes

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Articles served from advocate.com

Nothing to see here? DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin shares a D.C. home with a Republican congressman

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is weirdly 'obsessed' with Alyssa Edwards

Lauren Boebert calls reporting on alleged same-sex relationships ‘filthy garbage’

​Lauren Boebert rages against same-sex relationship allegations, sparking hilarious memes

Lauren Boebert denies alleged relationships with staffers: ‘I’m not a lesbian or bisexual’

Republican congressman gives WNBA (meaningless) deadline to define 'women'

JD Vance conjures the devil in false attack on LGBTQ+ charity during Kansas speech

Sarah McBride sails toward reelection after advancing unopposed in Delaware Democratic primary

Gay congressional candidate Chris Gallant won’t be shamed out of midterm race over BDSM photos

Kash Patel grilled about 'bestiality' within the FBI during bizarre Senate hearing

Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin snag Pelosi LGBTQ+ Ally Award. They warn of ‘authoritarian takeover’

Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin snag Pelosi LGBTQ+ Ally Award. They warn of ‘authoritarian takeover’

How a Democrat's House win in Nebraska could erase the ‘blue dot’ & harm LGBTQ+ rights

Advocate newsletter 3/30/26

Christopher Wiggins wins GLAAD award for Advocate cover story on Sarah McBride

Sarah McBride demands Trump administration release severely disabled Delaware resident from ICE custody

Sarah McBride demands Trump administration release severely disabled Delaware resident from ICE custody

Sarah McBride says GOP should protect Americans’ health coverage, not criminalize trans kids’ medical care

Sarah McBride says GOP should protect Americans’ health coverage, not criminalize trans kids’ medical care

Sarah McBride says GOP should protect Americans’ health coverage, not criminalize trans kids’ medical care

Lauren Boebert rages against same-sex relationship allegations, sparking hilarious memes