In democracies worldwide, the far-right has mobilised opposition to gender and sexual diversity. Concurrently, LGBTQI+ candidates are achieving unprecedented political visibility. This raises a critical question: in polarised contexts, under what conditions do these candidates become electorally competitive? This paper addresses this puzzle by analysing novel candidate-level data from Brazil’s 2024 municipal elections, which includes optional disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity alongside detailed campaign finance records. We argue that electoral competitiveness for LGBTQI+ candidates is not merely a function of identity but is determined by the mobilisation of specific financial resources. The analysis examines how systemic factors—such as access to publicly distributed partisan funding and grassroots donations—interact with candidate self-presentation to shape electoral outcomes. Ultimately, this research moves beyond descriptive representation to explain the contingent process through which LGBTQI+ candidates are rendered—or render themselves—viable in an increasingly hostile political arena
