The Empire State Pride Agenda has weighed in with its second round of endorsements, which reveals the state’s largest LGBT organization is now backing three primary challengers seeking to oust Democratic Senate incumbents.

As reported by City Hall News this morning, ESPA has decided to support Lynn Nunes over Queens Sen. Shirley Huntley in spite of Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson’s push for the group to remain neutral.

ESPA is being joined in its effort to oust Huntley – one of eight Democrats who voted “no” on the same-sex marriage bill last December, by the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign.

(Interestingly, the HRC has launched a pro-marriage effort here in NY that’s headed by Brian Ellner, a former Bloomberg administration official who was in line to head ESPA, but was derailed by opponents who questioned his ties to the mayor).

ESPA is also supporting Tim Kennedy’s effort to defeat another Democratic “no” vote on marriage: Buffalo Sen. Bill Stachowksi, who is widely viewed as one of the majority’s most vulnerable members this fall.

In its first round of endorsements, ESPA announced it would be backing Charlie Ramos against Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., the Bronx Democrat who is one of the most outspoken opponents of gay marriage and has already been targeted by Fight Back NY and the Marriage Equality New York PAC.

ESPA Executive Director Ross Levi insisted in a statement that the organization’s endorsements were not based on a single issue, but rather on “a comprehensive review of a candidate’s positions and record, as well an assessment of his or her leadership qualities.”

“We want to identify those candidates with core commitment to LGBT equality and justice who can be a force for progressive change in Albany, and we want to do all we can to support those individuals this fall,” Levi said.

The full list of ESPA’s second round of endorsements appears below.

Pride Agenda Announces 2nd Round of Endorsements

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