With fewer than 10 days before the Virginia House of Delegates primary election, transgender candidate Danica Roem is receiving an influx of endorsements in the 13th district race.
Five national or state-level LGBTQ, women’s or progressive advocacy groups have endorsed Danica in recent weeks. EMILY’s List, Equality Virginia and Women Under Forty threw their support behind Roem’s historic campaign this week, joining Virginia’s List and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Victory Fund endorsed Roem as a spotlight candidate in April.
“Not only is Danica the first openly transgender candidate to run in Virginia, but she also represents a viable option for HD-13 with a vision that is not only inclusive of LGBT individuals but all the district’s diverse residents,” Equality Virginia’s PAC said in a statement. “We believe electing this impressive candidate to the House of Delegates will offer a stark contrast to the divisive nature of Del. [Bob] Marshall’s time in office.”
Marshall, Roem’s general election opponent should she advance from the Democratic primary, is known by some as Virginia’s “Chief Homophobe” for his anti-LGBTQ stances and dangerous legislative proposals. If Roem defeats Marshall, she’ll become the first transgender state legislator to serve in the U.S.
These recent endorsements coincide with a fundraising uptick for Danica, who raised more money in May than in the entire first quarter.
