Sarah McBride, a senator from Delaware, has made history by becoming the first openly transgender person elected to the United States Congress.
In the 5 November general election, the Associated Press projected McBride, a Democrat, , defeating Republican candidate John Whalen.
With 88 per cent of votes counted at the time of writing, McBride was in front 57.7 per cent to Whalen’s 42.3 per cent. The AP made the call around 1.43pm AEDT on Wednesday.
“Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress,” McBride wrote on X.
“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 our families, that ensures that housing and healthcare are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us.”
McBride won a competitive primary for Delaware’s at-large Congressional district, considered safely Democratic, in September.
When she was elected in 2020, she became the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator.
She now becomes the first openly transgender person to be elected to the House of Representatives.
Speaking with Reuters ahead of the election, McBride focused on the issues she would advocate for over the nature of her candidacy.
“Whenever you are first, you often have to try to be the best version that you can,” she said, acknowledging that comes with “added responsibilities”.
“But none of them matter if I don’t fulfil the responsibility of just being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware.”
Sarah McBride came out as transgender in 2011 and became involved in politics to create a more inclusive environment. Source: AAP / Pamela Smith/AP
McBride came out as transgender in 2011 and became involved in politics to create a more inclusive environment.
Recently, she served as the national spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTIQ+ rights organisation.
“Anyone who worries that the heart of this country is not big enough to love them should know that they belong,” McBride said.
“Our democracy is big enough for all of us.”
— With additional reporting by the Reuters news agency.
