McBride would be one of the first out LGBTQ people elected to Delaware state legislature;
Openly gay state House candidate Eric Morrison’s race has not yet been called
Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund endorsed candidate Sarah McBride won her Democratic primary in Delaware and will likely become the first out trans person ever elected to a state senate seat anywhere in the United States. She is expected to win the general election come November. McBride will also make history as the first, or one of the first, openly LGBTQ people elected to the Delaware state legislature. She will share that title with Eric Morrison – an openly gay state House candidate whose primary election has not yet been called tonight – should they both win in November. Delaware is one of just five states to have never elected an openly LGBTQ person to their state legislature.*
McBride’s victory was critical to Victory Fund’s efforts to at least double the number of out trans state legislators in 2020 – from four to eight or more. Only four out trans people have ever been elected to and served in state legislatures and all still hold their seats.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about McBride’s primary victory:
“Sarah’s primary win shatters another lavender ceiling in our movement to build LGBTQ political power and her victory will inspire more transgender people to run for elected office. At a time when the Trump administration, cynical politicians and too many state legislatures are attempting to use trans people as political weapons, Sarah’s win is a powerful reminder that voters are increasingly rejecting the politics of bigotry in favor of candidates who stand for equality.
“Three years ago there were zero out trans state legislators anywhere in the country, but each win reinvigorates a virtuous cycle that familiarizes voters with trans people and encourages more trans people to run. We are optimistic we can double the number of trans state legislators in 2020 – from four to at least eight – and their impact will be felt well-beyond the boundaries of their districts.”
Virginia Delegate Danica Roem became the first out trans person to win and serve in a state legislature when she was elected in November 2017. In addition to Delegate Roem, just three other out trans people have been elected to a state legislature and all are up for re-election this year: Colorado state Representative Brianna Titone and New Hampshire state Representatives Lisa Bunker and Gerri Cannon.
The five non-incumbent trans state legislative candidates endorsed by Victory Fund who will appear on the November ballot are: McBride of Delaware, Stephanie Byers of Kansas, Madeline Eden of Texas, Jessica Katzenmeyer of Wisconsin and Taylor Small of Vermont.
* Former Delaware state Senator Karen Peterson came out while in office in 2013 but did not seek re-election. She was never elected as an openly LGBTQ candidate. The other four states to have never elected an openly LGBTQ person to their state legislature are Alaska, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
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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.
