Democratic Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, defeating Republican John Whalen III for the state’s lone House seat Tuesday (November 5) night.
“Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and your values, I am proud to be your next member of Congress. Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all our families, that ensures that housing and health care are available to everyone and that this is a democracy that is big enough for all of us,” McBride wrote on her X account.
McBride, an LGBTQ activist, defeated Whalen, a construction company owner and former state trooper by a 57.7% to 42.3% margin, having raised more than $3 million in campaign contributions nationwide. The state senator previously made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention in the United States at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
“Tonight is a testament to Delawareans that we have shown time and time again that in this state of neighbors, we judge candidates based on their ideas and not their identities,” McBride said during her acceptance speech via the New York Post. “I didn’t run to make history. I ran to make a difference for my state and this country,” she added. “I think this is a powerful message that Delawareans are fair-minded and that our democracy is big enough for all of us.”
McBride gained a reputation for focusing on healthcare issues during her time as a state senator, which included sponsoring legislation that created statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program, as well as sponsoring legislation to address Medicaid reimbursement rates for home healthcare services and expand low-income Delawareans’ access to dental care.
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