Openly lesbian Ohio councilwoman Nickie Antonio won the Democratic primary for District 13 in the Ohio state house Tuesday, according to the Advocate. 

The Lakewood city legislator is poised to become the first out state lawmaker in Ohio after the general election this fall.

Now in her second term on the Lakewood City Council, Antonio said, "I'm very thankful for the support of the Victory Fund.  I'm proud of their endorsement, and they really put their hearts into this campaign.  Like me, they believe that Ohio will benefit from having diverse voices in government that truly represent everybody in our state."

In November, Antonio is expected to win over independent candidate Jeremy Caldwell, who filed for the race Monday. District 13 also incorporates parts of Cleveland.

Gay Politics reports that the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed 35 candidates in state legislative races so far this year, according to president and CEO Chuck Wolfe.

"We're looking forward to finally adding Ohio to the list of states where our community has a voice in state government.  The most dynamic and important fights for our rights are happening in state legislatures, so it's vital to have people like Nickie at the table of power.  Change can come slowly in Washington, so building our political power in state capitals can mean a quicker path to a more free, more fair America," said Wolfe.

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