Sarah McBride is Poised to be the First Openly Transgender Congresswoman

It just became much more likely that the United States Congress will get its first openly transgender representative this electoral cycle. Sarah McBride, a Democrat from Delaware, has been running for the open congressional seat in Delaware’s at-large district.

McBride initially was facing two other potential Democratic rivals in the primary; however, Eugene Young, the director of the Delaware State Housing Authority, suspended his campaign last Wednesday. This left McBride as the only Democrat left officially running.

Of course, other candidates may jump into the house race before the September primary, but as of now, McBride is all but assured to win the Democratic primary. Given the at-large district’s partisan lean, it is almost assured that McBride will be elected to the House of Representatives, barring any major changes to the race. 

McBride, who is currently a state senator, holds the distinction of being the highest-ranking transgender politician in America. Yet, simplifying McBride’s campaign down to her gender identity does her career a disservice. 

McBride worked in the White House during the Obama administration before running for state senate. Early on she worked on the campaign of Delaware’s former Attorney General Beau Biden. Joe Biden specifically credits McBride for his now vocal support for LGBTQ+ rights.  Over her tenure as a state senator, McBride united Delaware’s largest labor unions and the state Chamber of Commerce to support a bill for paid family leave, in addition to being an outspoken advocate against gun violence.

McBride told TIME magazine in an interview: “Hopefully, it will help to humanize a community that has been long marginalized,” voicing that she doesn’t take the possibility of being the first openly transgender congressperson, especially as the House is currently helmed by a radical right-wing, evangelical who has publicly lamented including gender identity and sexuality in anti-discrimination statutes.

McBride went on to add that Republicans “have absolutely no policy solutions for issues that face this country and seek to distract with manufactured culture wars. It’s critical we have members of the impacted community at the table.”

The state senator made it clear in the interview that she is not running on her identity, but rather focusing on her career achievements. 

McBride’s success in this campaign is due in no small part to her wide cash advantage. By March, McBride’s campaign had generated $1.9 million in funds from a broad coalition of labor groups, Democratic organizations, and a robust LGBTQ+ donor network. 

If McBride wins in November, she will be continuing a trend where queer candidates have been instrumental in winning key elections across the country. 

Delaware’s only congressional seat is open as the incumbent, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, has pursued the Senate opening left from the retirement of Sen. Tom Carper. Blunt Rochester will likely make history as well as the first woman and first person of color to represent the state of Delaware in the Senate.

For added measure, Blunt Rochester endorsed McBride as her replacement in the U.S. House. 

The Democratic Party is anticipated to hold both the House and Senate seats this election cycle. The last time the small state elected a Republican to the House was in 2008 (and 1994 for the Senate).

All photos courtesy of social media