Sarah McBride Makes Historic Congressional Win as First Out Transgender Candidate

Sarah McBride’s victory in securing Delaware’s only House seat marks a historic achievement, as she becomes the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress. The Democrat, who won 57.8% of the vote with 95% of ballots counted, defeated Republican John Whalen III in a race that was closely watched across the nation.

In her victory speech, McBride celebrated the progressive values of Delaware, emphasizing that her win was a testament to voters judging candidates on their ideas rather than their identities. “Tonight is a testament to Delawareans that here in our state of neighbors, we judge candidates based on their ideas and not their identities,” she said, underlining her belief in inclusivity and progress.

McBride, who previously served in Delaware’s state Senate, is known for her work in expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting reproductive rights, and advocating for higher minimum wages. In a 2024 interview, she emphasized her goal in Congress would be to break through partisan gridlock to pass meaningful legislation, something she successfully accomplished during her time in the Delaware Senate. There, she played a key role in passing universal paid family and medical leave.

McBride’s victory is particularly significant not just for her political platform, but also for its profound personal meaning. In her speech, she paid tribute to her late husband, Andy Cray, who passed away from cancer in 2014 just days after their wedding. She reflected on the hardships they faced together and how those experiences strengthened her resolve to push for change, reminding the crowd that hope only makes sense in the face of adversity. “While at this moment in America’s history, hope sometimes feels hard to come by, we must never forget that we are the beneficiaries of seemingly impossible change,” she said.

McBride’s victory also serves as a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender individuals, who have often faced significant challenges and political attacks. Jake Carpenter, a 42-year-old financial professional who supported McBride’s campaign, shared that meeting McBride at a community event won him over after she walked him through the policies she had worked on in Delaware. Carpenter, who is gay, called McBride a “hero” for being a visible and successful member of the LGBTQ+ community. He even knocked on doors in the majority-Republican Sussex County to convince voters to support her, citing the importance of her historic run.

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, lauded McBride’s win as “a landmark achievement on the march toward equality.” Robinson stressed that McBride’s victory reflects growing societal acceptance of transgender people, as well as her effective legislative work. McBride’s rise to Congress exemplifies the power of visible LGBTQ+ leaders working toward tangible political change.

McBride has made history before. In 2012, she became the first openly transgender person to intern at the White House under the Obama administration. Her visibility continued to grow as she became the first openly transgender speaker at a major political convention when she addressed the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In 2020, McBride made history again by becoming the first openly transgender state senator in the U.S. when she was elected to represent Delaware’s 1st Senate District.

Throughout her career, McBride has been a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, having worked with numerous political campaigns and organizations. She has garnered support from many Democratic leaders, including Joe Biden, who wrote the foreword to her memoir, Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality.

Her historic victory comes at a time when anti-transgender rhetoric has been a focal point in Republican politics. The GOP has spent millions of dollars on ads targeting transgender people, and figures like former President Donald Trump and Senate candidate JD Vance have leaned into anti-trans messaging during their campaigns. McBride’s election, therefore, stands as a powerful counterpoint to the anti-trans sentiment that has dominated many political discussions in recent years.

As McBride herself stated after casting her own ballot, the victory of seeing herself and others like her represented on the national stage is a reflection of how far the country has come. She added, “That ticket is not an ultimate destination, but it is a reflection of how far we’ve come, that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from or the gender with which you identify, you can live your truth and dream big dreams all at the same time. It’s not the end, but it’s the beginning.”

McBride’s election to Congress represents not just a personal triumph, but a groundbreaking moment for transgender visibility and representation in American politics. Her path to this historic win has shown that change is possible, even in the face of overwhelming opposition, and has inspired many in the LGBTQ+ community who see her as a trailblazer for their own futures in public life.

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