Teresa Tomlinson’s race to unseat David Perdue in the U.S. Senate got a boost from several LGBTQ donors at a Midtown Atlanta fundraiser.
The Sept. 18 event raised over $10,000 for Tomlinson, according to co-host Dennis Collard. Tomlinson (photo center), the former Columbus mayor, is one of four candidates running in the Democratic primary for the chance to face Perdue in November 2020.
“As a gay man, I support Teresa because her record of fighting discrimination against our community goes back decades, long before she ever ran for public office,” Collard (photo left) told Project Q Atlanta.
“I have personally seen how Teresa connects with people of all communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, and that is because you can't fake sincerity. Voters sense her sincerity and her honest desire to bring progressive leadership to the U.S. Senate,” he added.
LGBTQ co-hosts of the fundraiser, held at Collard’s family law practice, were Chris Morter, Stephen Spann (Collard’s husband, photo right), John Reid, Jeff Quigley, Greg Blazer and Galen Kovach.
Other LGBTQ donors in attendance included Nancy Goodman, Michael Grover, Heath Miller, Brad Schneck, Luke Shouse, Beth Shapiro, Thad Woody and Chris Cochran.
Atlanta City Councilmember Amir Farokhi, a straight ally, was also an event co-host.
Tomlinson raised $520,000 in the fundraising period ending in June, according to the AJC. The third quarter campaign finance report is due at the end of September.
Tomlinson touted her LGBTQ record in an interview with Project Q in May. She called President Donald Trump’s administration a “shipwreck” in a keynote speech at Georgia Equality’s annual gala in June.
Tomlinson is up against Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry, former lieutenant governor candidate Sarah Riggs Amico and former 6th Congressional District candidate Jon Ossoff in the Democratic primary.
The race for Perdue’s seat is one of two elections in 2020 for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.
Collard appeared in a campaign ad for Stacey Abrams during her 2018 run for governor against Brian Kemp.
Photo courtesy Dennis Collard
