Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride has made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. McBride defeated Republican John Whalen III in the race for Delaware’s lone House seat on Tuesday. With a national profile as an LGBTQ activist, McBride raised over $3 million in campaign contributions and became the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention in the U.S. in 2016.
McBride’s victory is seen as a testament to Delawareans’ focus on candidates’ ideas rather than their identities. As a state senator, she has worked on healthcare issues, including successfully sponsoring legislation for a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program, addressing Medicaid reimbursement rates for home healthcare services, and expanding access to dental care for low-income residents in Delaware.
All of McBride’s legislative measures have been enacted into law. Democrats have held Delaware’s U.S. House seat since 2010, and McBride’s election continues the party’s stronghold on the position.
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