(The hill) – Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride (D) was expected to win her election for Delaware’s at-large House district on Tuesday, making history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, according to state headquarters Decision desk.
McBride, who had come in robust to defeat her Republican opponent Josh Elections, a retired police officer, sailed to victory in the deep blue state. She secured the Democratic nomination for the state’s only House seat in September with 80 percent of the vote.
“Thank you, Delaware! Because of your voices and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress,” McBride wrote Tuesday in a post on X after NBC News called the race. “Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all of our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to all, and that a democracy.” That’s large enough for all of us.
McBride is no stranger to being a game changer. In 2020, she became the country’s first openly trans state representative, and before that she made history by becoming the first out trans person to speak at a major party convention when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.
At least seven more openly transgender people have been elected to state legislatures since then, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, an organization that advocates for greater LGBTQ political representation.
“My hope is that we get to a world where it’s no longer newsworthy that people like me are in politics or elected to public office,” said McBride, 34, said The Hill in an interview last year.
Her election comes at a pivotal moment for transgender rights in the United States. More than 600 bills threatening transgender people’s access to health care, education and legal recognition have been introduced in state legislatures this year. according to Trans Legislation Trackerand 45 became law.
In Congress, Republicans in the House and Senate filed dozens of bills targeting transgender rights and added anti-LGBTQ measures to pass federal spending bills.
Former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), have promised to ban transgender athletes from female sports teams if elected and to ban gender-affirming health care for minors, which major medical organizations say is medically necessary is for trans youth and adults.
Republicans across the country — including Trump and Vance — highlighted transgender issues in their campaigns’ closing arguments and spent more than $200 million on advertising related to transgender athletes and gender-affirming care, according to AdImpact data. Most of the trans women and drag performers whose images appear in the ads were shown without their knowledge or consent. Found the hill.
Democrats and LGBTQ rights organizations celebrated McBride’s victory on Tuesday.
“As the first openly transgender person in Congress, her service is a milestone on the path to equality,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ advocacy group that endorsed McBride.
“This historic victory reflects not only the increasing acceptance of transgender people in our society, driven by the courage of visible leaders like Sarah, but also her persistent work to demonstrate that she is an effective legislator will deliver real results.”
