Opposing Anti-Gay Amendments Had Little Effect On Incumbents

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/01/011905hrcElect.htm

State lawmakers who opposed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage fared extraordinarily well at the polls even though all the states where the proposed amendments were on the ballot voted to bar gay marriage a new national poll shows.

The survey released Wednesday by the Human Rights Campaign is almost identical to a smaller survey of five key states that was released last week. (story)

The HRC found that only 1.7 percent of 640 legislators in 28 states, including Massachusetts where gay marriage became legal last year, were voted out of office because they opposed measures banning marriage for same-sex couples.

[Ian David]

1. Great news!

The report found that 100 of 103 of state legislators who voted against anti-gay constitutional amendments and ran for re-election won their races, compared to 196 of the 215 state legislators who voted for them.

In all five states combined, 19 legislators who voted for anti-gay amendments lost their seats. Only 3 legislators who voted against these amendments lost their seats.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. "only" 1.7%?

Does this publication have any idea how difficult it is to be voted out of office to begin with? It usually takes a lot more than 1 issue to boot an incumbent. The fact that any were successful is cause for alarm.

[Ian David]

3. Good point, BUT...

Do you realize how badly the 108th congress sucked?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Sure, but...

do you realize that 1.7% probably all turned over to Republicans, meaning people endorsed said suckiness?