Sarah McBride becomes the first ever openly transgender person elected to US Congress

Sarah McBride has won the seat against the Republican Party’s John Whalen in Delaware’s general election, NBC News projects

Democratic Party member Sarah McBride has won Delaware’s only House seat, NBC News projects.

Earlier today (November 5), it was projected McBride has won the seat against the Republican Party’s John Whalen in Delaware’s election for the House of Representatives.

The 34-year-old became the first openly transgender person to serve as state senator when elected to represent Delaware’s 1st Senate District in 2020, and has since become the first openly transgender person to be elected to the US House of Representatives.

McBride took to Twitter after the race was called by NBC News to write: “Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress.

McBride’s website notes she grew up in Wilmington and has been ‘advocating for her community for decades’. She came out in 2011, but knew she was transgender for years, later getting into politics in a bid to push for inclusivity.

Prior to being elected to the State Senate, she worked for former Governor Jack Markell, Joe Biden, and served in the Obama-Biden White House alongside serving as the national spokesperson for the nation’s largest LGBTQ equal rights organization the Human Rights Campaign.

President of the Human Rights Campaign, Kelley Robinson, reflected on McBride’s projected win as ‘a landmark achievement on the march toward equality,’ as quoted by NBC News.

Sarah McBride becomes first openly transgender person elected to Congress (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Sarah McBride becomes first openly transgender person elected to Congress (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Robinson continued: “This historic victory reflects not only increasing acceptance of transgender people in our society, ushered in by the courage of visible leaders like Sarah, but also her dogged work in demonstrating that she is an effective lawmaker who will deliver real results. [She is] reshaping the halls of Congress.”

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