Sarah McBride just won her primary & is likely to become the first trans member of Congress

Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride (D) won the primary for Delaware’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; the win all but ensures her election to Congress and will make her the first out trans member of Congress.

Delaware’s NPR affiliate, Delaware Public Radio, reported that it was a landslide election, with McBride winning nearly 80% of the vote.

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In November 2020, McBride made history as the country’s first out transgender state senator when she won a decisive victory over Republican Steve Washington in the race to represent Delaware’s 1st Senate District.

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On Tuesday, McBride won the primary against businessmen Earl Cooper and Elias Weir, neither of whom reported any campaign fundraising. Cooper, a political newcomer, faced Weir, who had finished last in a 2016 congressional primary, earning less than 1% of the vote.

In contrast, McBride raised nearly $3 million in contributions from across the country. She gained national attention in 2016 when she became the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party convention during the Democratic National Convention.

After her win, McBride told the Associated Press, “My heart is filled with hope and gratitude, I’m grateful, I’m hopeful and I’m motivated.”

She also noted that the results showed the “goodness” of Delawareans who judge a candidate “based on ability, not identity.”

McBride told supporters on election night, “Our rights and our freedoms, our dignity and our democracy are on the line in this election, but so, too, is the promise of tomorrow because we aren’t just here because of what’s at risk. We are also here because of what is possible. … Y’all, hope and joy are making a comeback in America.”

“Alongside the immense amount of gratitude I feel tonight, I also feel the deep responsibility that comes with being your nominee for this seat. While tonight we celebrate our victory in the primary, we all know that our work is far from over, and we know what is at stake in this election,” she said.

Delaware voted for Biden with 59% of the vote in 2020, giving Trump only 40% of the vote. The current occupant of this congressional seat, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), won her last four elections with at least 55% of the vote.

McBride has embraced her role as one of the highest-ranking trans elected officials in the country and talked to LGBTQ Nation last year about the importance of diversity in the electoral system.

“I truly believe that our best days are ahead of us as a country, particularly if we accept and embrace the strengths of this nation, which includes our diversity,” she said.

“You don’t have to be LGBTQ to know what it feels like to be unseen and unheard. That is a commonality among so many people across our country. And that, for me, is at the heart of why I run and why I ran for office: to help our state of neighbors more fully live up to our values, and to broaden every circle of opportunity for everyone of every background.”

McBride is endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory fund, which said in a press release, “Sarah is going to do amazing work in the U.S. House. She’s spent her career prioritizing trans voices, ensuring that our lives are valued and prioritized. And now, she’ll be taking the fight to the U.S. Congress, where transphobes will be forced to justify their terrible policies to her face. She’s going to hold them accountable, and we couldn’t be more excited for her.”

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