Sarah McBride Has Become The First Openly Transgender Senator In US History

Sarah McBride has become the first openly transgender senator in the history of the United States.

The 30-year-old Democrat celebrated her win in Delaware this evening (4 November), defeating Republican Steve Washington by some way.

Taking to social media, McBride, who serves as the National Press Secretary of Human Rights Campaign, said she was over the moon with her victory.

She told her followers 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."

Ahead of the election, McBride said she wasn't trying to make history or a name for herself, but she was aware that it could have an impact on young people in the country.

She said: "I'm running to make a difference in this community and to represent this community as best I can by bringing the full range of experiences and perspectives I have with such a long history in this community.

"I am mindful of the responsibility that I hold.

"I'm mindful of just how powerful it would've been for me as a kid to see the story pop up online of a transgender person being elected to a state senate and the message that it would've sent to somebody like me growing up worried that there wasn't space for someone like me in this world.

"That's a powerful message and that's a powerful opportunity to provide a little bit of hope, and a little bit of comfort, to a young person here in Delaware or somewhere else in this country, that our democracy is big enough for them too."

The senator also marked her victory with a post to her Instagram account.

Sharing a photograph after hearing the result, she said: "We did it. We won the general election. Thank you thank you, thank you."

McBride was praised and congratulated for her ground-breaking win.

Writing on social media, one person said: "Massive congratulations to Sarah McBride on winning a State Senate seat in Delaware and becoming the first Trans State Senator in US History.

"Savor the victories as they come. Progress is always worth celebrating!"

Another put: "You deserve this and the people of Delaware deserve you. Congratulations!"

Topics: Instagram, History, Election

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom