After the November 3 US Election on Tuesday, Democratic and trans activist Sarah McBride has become the USA's first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator.
McBride is a former spokesperson and national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, and beat Republican candidate Steve Washington in a landslide vote for Delaware's 1st District, which is famously Democratic. She reportedly won 73% of the vote.
McBrides victory has come three years after Danica Roem of Virginia became the first openly trans person elected to the lower chamber of a state legislature. "I am hopeful that there’s a young person desperately in need of that message, who, just before going to bed, looked online and saw this result, for that person, they know that change is possible and things can get better.” McBride said in her winning statement, according to the New York Times.
This is a huge step forward for the nation, and though it should be considered a political norm, for now, it is a major accomplishment for both the LGBTQI+ community and the upcoming Democratic star. It is monumental considering no state in the US has ever elected a transgender person to its state Senate, making McBride the highest-ranking trans official elected to office in the United States.
President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, Annise Parker, released a statement following McBride’s victory: “Sarah’s overwhelming victory is a powerful testament to the growing influence of transgender leaders in our politics and gives hope to countless trans people looking toward a brighter future." She said. "For Sarah to shatter a lavender ceiling in such a polarizing year is a powerful reminder that voters are increasingly rejecting the politics of bigotry in favour of candidates who stand for fairness and equality. Her victory will inspire more trans people to follow in her footsteps and run for public office.”
Alongside McBrides monumental win, Progressive Democrats across the country also banked notable victories. Progressive Cori Bush, has become the first Black woman elected to represent Missouri in Congress and Democrats Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones, became the first openly gay Black men to be elected to Congress.
Image: @sarahemcbride
