Sarah McBride is set to be Delaware’s first openly transgender state Senator.
A Democratic activist and the former National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign, she is expected to further pro-LGBTQ+ legislation during her time in the state Senate.
McBride beat Republican candidate Steve Washington in Delaware’s 1st District. While this is definitely a blue district through and through, she won the race in an overwhelming victory. As per unofficial results from the Delaware Department of Elections, the Democrat won with 73 percent of the vote.
Apart from being the first openly trans state Senator, McBride is Delaware’s first out LGBTQ person elected to the state’s legislature, CNN reported.
“We did it. I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too,” she tweeted on Tuesday following the election. “As Delaware continues to face the [public health] crisis, it’s time to get to work to invest in the policies that will make a difference for working families.”
McBride has achieved many milestones in the recent past. In 2016, she was the first transgender person to speak at a major party convention when she addressed the Democratic National Convention.
The now-Senator was also the first out transgender White House staffer when she interned in the Obama White House. As she continues her political journey, she is expected to achieve so much more.
McBride’s platform ran on three major pillars. Increasing access to healthcare and paid leave, raising the state of Delaware’s minimum wage, and bringing reforms to the criminal justice system. While she works on these key issues, she is, of course, a pioneer for legislation that protects the LGBTQ+ community.
Mcbride was one of the main proponents of Delaware’s gender identity non-discrimination act which was passed in 2013. Now, she is set to expand pro-LGBTQ+ policies even further.
Alphonso David, the president of the Human Rights Campaign said McBride “made history not just for herself but for our entire community.”
“She gives a voice to the marginalized as a representative and an advocate,” David in an official statement. “This victory, the first of what I expect to be many in her career, shows that any person can achieve their dream, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Annise Parker, the former mayor of Houston and current President of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, added in a separate statement that ‘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.’
Celebrities also took notice of McBride’s victory. Among those who congratulated her on election win were Charlize Theron, Amy Schumer, Katie Couric, Colton Hayes, and Chelsea Clinton. They all claimed that her appointment is something to celebrate amidst hard times.
While this is a landmark day for transgender legislators, McBride is clear that she is here to do more than just be a token representative.
“I don’t intend on serving as a transgender state senator,” McBride said to Delaware’s News Journal last year. “I intend on serving as a senator who happens to be transgender.”