Cities around the Bay Area are welcoming new LGBTQ leaders this month and next, following the outcomes of local elections on the November 8 ballot.

Republican Greg Wallis has declared victory in his Assembly race against bisexual Palm Springs City Councilmember Christy Holstege.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday morning passed the Respect for Marriage Act on a 258-169 bipartisan vote. The bill now heads to President Joe Biden, who has pledged to sign it.

A month after the November 8 election and the final results are now in for two of the three last remaining California races that featured out candidates.

With the drawing of his name out of a red Christmas holiday shopping bag by Richmond City Clerk Pamela Christian, Cesar Zepeda was selected as the winner of the East Bay city's District 2 council race.

At the state Capitol Monday afternoon nearly all of the newly elected legislators took their oaths of office. But not present was the new member from Assembly District 47 spanning Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Tuesday morning, inside the chambers of the Richmond City Council, Cesar Zepeda will learn if he will join the governing body as the representative from the East Bay city's District 2.

For two out candidates with Bay Area ties, the November 8 election brought mixed results for their political bids.

When lesbian state Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) assumes leadership of the affinity group for California LGBTQ legislators in January, she will preside over the largest caucus of out lawmakers since it was formed in 2002.

Walking onto the steps of City Hall Wednesday to Queen's "We are the Champions," Oakland Mayor-elect Sheng Thao thanked those who voted for her and vowed to be a mayor for all residents — even if they supported another candidate during the campaign.

Two out dads scored historic victories in the November 8 election by winning seats on their East Bay cities' school boards, while two out Bay Area female education leaders also scored historic wins.

At a drag-themed Friendsgiving co-hosted by 21Seeds Tequila and famed San Francisco drag personality Juanita MORE!, attendees gave thanks for the past year and the outcome of the midterm elections.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Thursday, announced her decision to pass the leadership torch to a younger generation of Democratic members in the lower chamber, stepping down after years of service in that role

In the U.S. Senate, in a 62-37 vote Wednesday, 12 Republicans voted with all Democrats to move forward on the Respect for Marriage Act bill.