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Democratic nominee elected first openly transgender US senator

Sarah McBride won the race for the Delaware Senate on Tuesday night.
Sarah McBride won the race for the Delaware Senate on Tuesday night.

Democratic nominee Sarah McBride has become the first transgender person elected to the United States senate.

Ms McBride won the race for the Delaware senate during Tuesday’s general election, making her the first transgender person to hold office in the state’s upper chamber.

Shortly after the result was announced, she wrote on Twitter: “We did it. We won the general election. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

“I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too.

“As Delaware continues to face the Covid crisis, it’s time to get to work to invest in the policies that will make a difference for working families.”

While she joins a handful of other transgender legislators around the country, she is the first transgender person to hold the office of state senator.

Ms McBride, the national press secretary at the Human Rights Campaign, ran on a platform with policies including paid family and medical leave for all workers, reducing costs and increasing competition in the health care industry and strengthening public schools.

While in college at American University, she interned in the Obama White House, becoming the first openly transgender woman to work in the White House in any capacity.

Ms McBride, a transgender rights activist, has played a crucial role in the fight for LGBTQ+ discrimination protections in her state of Delaware and has lobbied for the Equality Act to extend protections nationwide.

For her efforts advancing equality in Delaware, former Governor Jack Markell awarded Sarah the Order of the First State, making her one of the youngest Delawareans granted the state’s highest civilian honour.

She released a memoir in 2018, entitled ‘Tomorrow Will Be Different’, which earned acclaim from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. It recounted her experiences fighting for equality in America, as well as her relationship with her late husband Andrew Cray, for whom she was a caregiver throughout his cancer battle.

Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said: “Tonight, Sarah made history not just for herself but for our entire community. She gives a voice to the marginalized as a representative and an advocate.

“This victory – the first of what I expect to be many in her career – shows that any person can achieve their dream, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.

“Though we will miss having her as an employee at the Human Rights Campaign, Sarah will undoubtedly represent the First District well and we look forward to seeing what she accomplishes.”