09/12/2024
Read Sarah’s story in “Door by Door”, available now in the library.
Sarah McBride is one step closer to becoming the first transgender member of Congress after taking the majority of the vote in deep-blue Delaware’s Democratic primary for the state’s sole seat in the House of Representatives. She will face former police officer James Whalen III, a Republican, in the general election.
McBride is expected to win in November — and not just because the House seat has been held by Democrats since 2010. She has raised millions for her campaign, much of it last year, well ahead of the primary. She is endorsed by key Democratic state leaders and major PACs like Emily’s List, which holds sway with many women voters because of its work in helping elect candidates in favor of abortion rights. McBride is also a long-time friend of the Biden family in the president’s home state.
McBride was sworn in as the country’s first openly transgender state senator in 2021. She has since navigated her historic political career with a core belief that voters are ready to support trans candidates because they respond to real people and their policies, not just one facet of their identity.
On Tuesday, McBride told the Associated Press that the primary results reflect the “goodness” of Delaware voters judging a candidate “based on ability, not identity.” Her gender identity is just one part of who she is, she told the AP. “The only identity I want to be known for is my identity as a proud Delawarean,” she said.
In interviews with The 19th, McBride has acknowledged that in the current political climate, where transgender rights and identity have become targets of far-right vitriol and legislation, her victory has the potential to be life-affirming to trans people and their families. The parents of trans youth that she’s met on the campaign trail have said as much to her.
McBride’s policy priorities include creating affordable child care options, improving the cost of living, safeguarding abortion rights, promoting gun safety and expanding health care access. She said that tackling these issues, in addition to criminal justice reform and affordable early-childhood education, is how she plans to help LGBTQ+ people in Delaware if elected.
✍️: Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter
📸: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
