Maura Healey has company.
On Tuesday, Michigan elected the country’s second out LGBTQ attorney general in Democrat Dana Nessel.
At 9:00 this morning, my opponent Tom Leonard called to concede.
Tom, you ran a great race. It has been an honor to run against you these last 4 months.
To all of my supporters, thank you. We made our dream a reality. I’m ready to do the work.
— Dana Nessel (@dananessel) November 7, 2018
Nessel bested Republican opponent Tom Leonard with 48.7 percent of the vote.
Nessel is perhaps best known for her role in arguing DeBoer v. Snyder, the case that won marriage equality for Michigan in 2014. She is president of LGBTQ civil rights organization Fair Michigan Foundation and has vowed to aggressively prosecute discrimination cases and hate crimes.
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Nessel is the country’s second out lesbian attorney general after Massachusetts’ Maura Healey, who easily won her re-election bid Tuesday night against Republican challenger Jay McMahon.
Thank you Massachusetts! I’ve loved being your Attorney General – and I’m so lucky to get to do this job. I’m so happy I get to be your AG for FOUR MORE YEARS. pic.twitter.com/1oNk1KODXi
— Maura Healey (@maura_healey) November 7, 2018
Healey was elected in 2014 and has championed LGBTQ issues. She was a prominent supporter of the Yes on 3 campaign to uphold transgender protections at the ballot in the first statewide referendum on transgender rights Tuesday.
Her challenger, Jay McMahon, favored repealing anti-discrimination protections because the law “doesn’t protect women from sexual predators,” according to WGBH.
Healey has almost been among the most litigious public officials to combat the Trump administration, suing to uphold the Affordable Care Act, oppose Trump’s travel ban and keep environmental protections.
Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press/TNS via Getty Images
