Sarah McBride has made history as the first openly transgender person to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The activist and politician, 34, defeated her Republican opponent John Whalen III, a former police officer and construction company owner from Delaware.
In a statement posted to social media, McBride wrote: “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.”
Ahead of the U.S. election on Tuesday, McBride also told CBS News that her win would be a “testament to Delawareans that the candidacy of someone like me is even possible.”
“I think that folks know that I am personally invested in equality as an LGBTQ person,” she added. “But my priorities are going to be affordable child care, paid family and medical leave, housing, health care, reproductive freedom.”
This isn’t the first time McBride has made history for trans visibility in politics. In 2012, she memorably interned in the White House for President Barack Obama, becoming the first trans person to do so.
Four years later, she blazed a trail as the first trans person to deliver a speech at a major political convention when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention, where she paid tribute to her late husband Andrew Cray and his LGBTQIA+ activism.
McBride subsequently released her memoir, Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality, featuring a foreword from President Joe Biden.
As well as McBride, Tuesday’s election saw five additional LGBTQIA+ lawmakers make history in politics.
Keturah Herron became the first LGBTQIA+ person of colour elected to Kentucky State Senate, while Rashaun Kemp is “humbled and grateful” to be the first openly gay Black man to be the “State Senator for Georgia’s 38th District”.
Gabby Salinas is the first out LGBTQIA+ woman in Tennesse legislature, Molly Cook the first out LGBTQIA+ person in the Texas Senate and Emily Randall the first LGBTQIA+ Latina in Washington State legislature.
“I am so grateful to continue being your State Senator for District 15,” tweeted Cook. “Thank you for every single vote, door knocked, and phone call made. I am going to fight for you in Austin and fight to be worthy of your vote every, single day for the next four years. Thank you, SD15!”
Randall celebrated making history, writing: “Together, we shattered three glass ceilings.
“When I take office in January, I will become the first congresswoman and first person of colour to hold this seat, the first openly LGBTQ person to represent Washington State in congress, and the first ever queer Latina member of congress.”
All of their victories coincide with the loss of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. Election. In January, convicted felon Donald Trump will once again be sworn in as President of the United States.