Sarah McBride becomes the first openly transgender person elected to congress
McBride, a Democrat, defeated Republican John Whalen III with 57.6% of the vote. As of now, 63% of the vote has been counted.
Sarah McBride made history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, winning Delaware's House seat with strong support for key issues like healthcare and equality.
On Tuesday, Sarah McBride made history by winning Delaware's House seat, NBC News reports. She is now the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
McBride, a Democrat, defeated Republican John Whalen III with 57.6% of the vote. As of now, 63% of the vote has been counted.
What McBride Stands For
McBride’s campaign focused on three main goals: expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting reproductive rights, and raising the minimum wage. She shared in an interview that she wants to work with other lawmakers to break the partisan gridlock and pass important laws.
During her time in Delaware’s Senate, she was known for passing laws like universal paid family and medical leave.
“I want to be the person who gets things done, not just talk about them,” McBride said.
Support From Across the State
One of her supporters, Jake Carpenter, a 42-year-old finance worker, met McBride at a community event in August. He was impressed by how she explained her past work in Delaware’s Senate. Carpenter, who is openly gay, said McBride is an inspiration to him.
“I knew she was trans, and seeing someone like her succeed means a lot to me,” Carpenter said. “She’s a hero to me.” He even helped knock on doors in Sussex County, the only Republican-majority county in Delaware, to get support for McBride. Carpenter said he convinced six Republicans to vote for her.
A Victory for Equality
McBride’s win has been called a “landmark achievement” by Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. She praised McBride’s hard work and commitment to making real change in Congress.
“This victory shows how much acceptance for transgender people has grown in our society,” Robinson said. “Sarah has worked hard to prove she’s an effective leader, and we’re proud to see her in Congress.”
Making History Again and Again
McBride has been making history for years. In 2012, she made headlines when she came out as transgender in her university’s student newspaper. That same year, she became the first openly trans woman to intern at the White House under the Obama administration.
In 2016, she made history again when she became the first openly transgender person to speak at a major political convention during the Democratic National Convention. Then, in 2020, she was elected to the Delaware Senate, becoming the first openly transgender state senator in the country.
Reflecting on Her Journey
On election day, McBride reflected on her journey and how far she has come. She thought about voting for Kamala Harris, the first woman of color to be elected vice president, and Lisa Blunt Rochester, who will become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in the Senate.
McBride believes that her victory is not just about her, but about everyone who has fought for equality.
“This is just the beginning,” McBride said. “It shows that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can live your truth and follow your dreams.”
