Roem’s opponent launched anti-trans ad in final weeks of the campaign
Washington, DC – Virginia Delegate Danica Roem – the first openly out-and-seated transgender state legislator ever elected in the United States – defeated her anti-LGBTQ challenger Kelly McGinn tonight in a race that was considered a bellwether for whether Virginia is trending Democratic. Holding her seat was considered critical to Democratic efforts to retake the House of Delegates in 2019. Roem is now the first out trans state legislator to win reelection.
Victory Fund invested heavily in Roem’s reelection race – raising more than $120,000 and directly contributing $2500.
“In 2017, Danica wrote the playbook on how transgender candidates can defeat anti-LGBTQ opponents through authenticity and attention to everyday issues – and her reelection victory sets it in stone,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Voters did not head to the polls to make history, yet they proved trans candidates can win battleground races in battleground states despite transphobic attacks from opponents. Danica inspired trans people across the nation to run for office. Her reelection proves that political revolution is a lasting transformation – not an aberration.”
In the final weeks of the campaign, an organization with strong ties to Roem’s opponent released an online ad attacking her gender identity. The ad was reminiscent of transphobic attacks from her 2017 opponent, Bob Marshall, a 25-year incumbent and self-described “chief homophobe” of the Virginia state legislature. She became the first openly trans person to win and serve in a state legislature when she defeated Marshall.
Roem is one of five openly LGBTQ incumbent state legislators. State Senator Adam Ebbin, as well as Delegates Dawn Adams, Mark Levine and Mark Sickles all had elections Tuesday night. All were considered critical to Democrats taking the state House.
Since Danica’s 2017 win, Victory Fund helped elect three more trans state legislators. Lisa Bunker and Gerri Cannon in New Hampshire, and Brianna Titone in Colorado, all won state legislative seats in 2018. There are currently just 21 openly trans elected officials in the entire country. A total of 18 openly trans candidates ran for office in 2019.
Live Election Night Results: Victory Fund is live tracking the election results for its 111 openly LGBTQ endorsed candidates. The latest updates can be found at victoryfund.org/results2019.
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LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.
