In the upcoming inauguration of the new U.S. House of Representatives members in January 2025, history will be made as the first openly transgender individual will be among them.
Sarah McBride, a Democrat, is predicted to have secured her victory in Delaware’s sole House seat, according to forecasts from the Associated Press. At present, she holds a lead of 58% of the vote against Republican contender John Whalen’s 42%, with 78% of the votes tallied.
McBride first gained nationwide attention in 2016 when she made history as the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention, specifically the Democratic National Convention. Almost ten years later, she is projected to win against Whalen, a retired business owner and former state trooper.
In September, after her primary win, McBride mentioned to The Associated Press that her congressional run was not about making history, but about making significant progress for the people of Delaware.
Before her congressional bid, McBride, 34, served as a state senator for Delaware, primarily focusing on healthcare issues. She was the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator after being elected in 2020, and she was also the first to intern at the White House in 2012.
Upon the announcement of her projected win, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, congratulated McBride. Robinson expressed pride in McBride’s historic achievement and her role in shaping Congress.
McBride, a Wilmington, Delaware native, publicly came out as transgender in 2011. She has stated that her political involvement stems from her desire to foster a more inclusive environment. She believes that her expected election sends a powerful message to transgender Americans, assuring them that they belong and that our democracy is vast enough to include everyone.
The Democrat party has held the Delaware seat since 2010. After Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester decided to run for the U.S. Senate seat last year, the seat was left vacant. Rochester also secured her own seat in the Senate.
This article contains information from The Associated Press and Reuters.
