Mark Takano

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The victory adds to Democrats' decisive midterm wave of victories.

Cait Conley, who is challenging U.S. Representative Mike Lawler to represent New York’s 17th Congressional District, speaks to supporters on September 16, 2026, in Tarrytown, New York.

Christopher Wiggins is the politics and news editor at equalpride, where he leads and shapes coverage across The Advocate, Out, and Them. Based in Washington, D.C., he oversees national reporting on the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, federal agencies, state governments, and the political forces shaping LGBTQ+ life in the United States.

A GLAAD Media Award-winning journalist, Wiggins has reported extensively on federal policy, civil rights, elections, the courts, and the consequences of government action for LGBTQ+ people, with a particular focus on transgender communities. His work includes cover profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine featuring U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride of Delaware, CNN anchor-turned-independent journalist Don Lemon, former senior Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official Dr. Demetri Daskalakis, and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

In addition to directing editorial strategy, Wiggins continues to report from Washington on the institutions, officials, and movements defining the national political landscape, including the second Trump administration.

He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Instagram and Bluesky. Whistleblowers and confidential sources may contact him securely on Signal at cwdc.98.

New York voters have elected Cait Conley to Congress, sending a lesbian Army combat veteran who served under “don’t ask, don’t tell” to Washington and flipping a Republican-held House seat.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler conceded to Conley late Tuesday in New York’s 17th Congressional District, ending his bid for a third term in one of the country’s closely watched House contests. Conley accepted his concession and delivered a victory speech that night.

Lawler acknowledged that outstanding ballots in Westchester County would leave him without enough votes to win.

“When all of the votes are counted tomorrow in Westchester, it’s going to be pretty clear that we will be short,” he told supporters in Pearl River, City & State reported.

The concession came as election officials worked through a counting delay in Westchester, where a programming error prevented scanners from reading ballots at most polling locations. Voters placed ballots in secure emergency bags, and officials said those votes would be counted.

Related: Ahead of midterms, Pete Buttigieg is everywhere Democrats need to win

The Hudson Valley contest was among the opportunities LGBTQ+ political leaders identified as consequential to the fight for House control. In an October interview with The Advocate, Equality PAC co-chair Mark Takano pointed to candidates including Conley as potential sources of Democratic gains.

Conley’s public service career began in the military. According to LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s endorsement announcement, she graduated from West Point, spent 16 years as an active-duty Army officer, and deployed six times. She later worked at the National Security Council and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

She served during an era when federal policy barred gay and lesbian troops from serving openly. Her campaign put support for LGBTQ+ rights alongside her military and national security experience.

In endorsing Conley in July, the Human Rights Campaign PAC cited her support for the Equality Act and health care access for LGBTQ+ people, including transgender youth and people living with HIV.

The campaign also attracted national Democratic support. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appeared at a September rally for Conley in Tarrytown.

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New Hampshire Democratic Senator-elect Chris Pappas (D-NH) embraces his husband, Vann Bentley, as he delivers his acceptance speech at a watch party at the Puritan Backroom on November 3, 2026, in Manchester, New Hampshire.

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New York State gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman speaks during a concession speech at the Nassau County GOP election night party at The Lannin in East Meadow, New York on Nov. 3, 2026.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) at SiriusXM Studio on November 02, 2026 in Washington, DC.

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