Sarah McBride has made history after being the first transgender woman to ever be elected as a state senator.
The Democrat, who is a champion for LGBT+ rights and human rights, held the state senate seat for Delaware in the 2020 US election.
Although there are a few transgender politicians who sit in state legislatures, there are currently no openly transgender politicians in a state’s upper chamber.
‘I’m not running to make history or headlines’
Before the election, McBride told People: ‘I’m not running to make history or to make headlines.
‘I’m running to make a difference in this community and to represent this community as best I can by bringing the full range of experiences and perspectives I have with such a long history in this community.
‘I am mindful of the responsibility that I hold.
‘I’m mindful of just how powerful it would’ve been for me as a kid to see the story pop up online of a transgender person being elected to a state senate and the message that it would’ve sent to somebody like me growing up worried that there wasn’t space for someone like me in this world.
‘That’s a powerful message and that’s a powerful opportunity to provide a little bit of hope, and a little bit of comfort, to a young person here in Delaware or somewhere else in this country, that our democracy is big enough for them too.’
McBride took a quick victory in the safe Democratic seat, beating opponent Republican Steve Washington by a large margin.
She is the national press secretary of the Human Rights Campaign, and has battled for LGBT+ discrimination protections in Delaware.
The former Obama White House staffer became the first transgender person to give a speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.
She has been endorsed by Joe Biden, who wrote the foreword for her memoir in 2018.
Annise Parker of LGBTQ Victory Fund said of the win: ‘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.
‘Throughout this election cycle, Donald Trump and other cynical politicians attempted to use trans people as a political weapon, believing they could gain popularity by stoking fear and hate.
‘For Sarah to shatter a lavender ceiling in such a polarising 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.’
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