Jared Polis is the first openly gay man elected governor of the state



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Colorado Congressman, Jared Polis, entered the story Tuesday night by becoming the first openly gay man to be elected governor of a US state.

Polis, a five-term member of Congress, is a Democrat who defeated his six-point Republican rival Walter Stapleton.

The historic milestone of Polis took place in the middle of a night of other revolutionary electoral moments. Polis joins Oregon Governor Kate Brown as the second member of the LGBTQ community to be elected governor of the state. Brown, who identifies as bisexual, took office in 2015.

After a campaign in which he championed progressive causes such as universal health, the expansion of renewable energies and the prevention of armed violence, Polis garnered 51.6% of the vote and 84% of the polling stations. vote.

Victory is particularly important given Colorado's reputation as a "hate state" – what militants gave it after voters passed a constitutional amendment in 1992 to prevent the creation of protections for the LGBTQ community.

Throughout his political career, Polis spoke openly about his sexuality before his election for the first time to Congress in 2009. During the election campaign, he emphasized that his campaign was different from the less "inclusive" tone of the leaders. Republicans.

"I think it really gives Colorado the opportunity to stick a thumb in the eye of Mike Pence," he told state democrats in a June speech , "Whose vision of America is not as inclusive as that of America today.

Mary Parker, President and CEO of the Victory Fund, a national organization that supports LGBTQ candidates, said in Denver To post of Polis's victory: "In 25 years, the state of Colorado, which was nicknamed" the state of hate ", has become a place that can elect a person who is not only openly gay, but also homosexual in public, it's historic. "

Write to Ciara Nugent at [email protected].

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