U.S.A.: Sarah McBride expected to become first trans member of Congress

In the U.S.A. Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride (D) clinched the primary victory for Delaware’s at-large seat in the U.S.A. House of Representatives, a victory that all but assures her election to Congress as the first openly trans member.

According to Delaware Public Radio, Delaware’s NPR affiliate, McBride won the election by a large margin, securing nearly 80% of the vote. In November 2020, McBride made history by becoming the nation’s first openly trans state senator after a decisive win over Republican Steve Washington, representing Delaware’s 1st Senate District.

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According to ‘LGBTQ Nation’, on Tuesday, McBride defeated businessmen Earl Cooper and Elias Weir in the primary, both of whom reported no campaign fundraising. Cooper, a newcomer to politics, competed against Weir, who had garnered less than 1% of the vote in a 2016 congressional primary.

In contrast, McBride garnered nearly $3 million (approximately £2.3 million) in nationwide contributions. She gained national prominence in 2016 as the first openly trans individual to address a major party convention at the Democratic National Convention.

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

She emphasised that the outcome demonstrated the “goodness” of Delaware residents who evaluate candidates based on their capabilities rather than their identity.

Addressing supporters on election night, McBride stated, “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.”

She added, “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.”

Delaware cast 59% of its votes for Biden in 2020, with Trump receiving just 40%. The current holder of this congressional seat, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), has secured victories in her last four elections with a minimum of 55% of the vote.

McBride has embraced her status as one of the most prominent trans elected officials in the nation and spoke to LGBTQ Nation last year about the value of diversity in the electoral process.

“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 stated.

“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 has received the endorsement of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which stated 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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