Winning her bid for the state’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, Delaware State Sen. Sarah McBride became the first transgender candidate elected to the U.S. Congress.

With 60 percent of precincts reporting, McBride led with 57.7% compared to 42.3 percent for her Republican opponent John Whalen.

Her win comes at a time when rights and protections for the community are under siege and anti-trans rhetoric has come to define national electoral politics, animating more Republican attack ads in the 2024 cycle than any topic other than immigration.

“America now has the opportunity to learn what Delawareans have long known — Sarah McBride is a devoted public servant, a bulldog for her constituents, and someone who represents the interests of everyone she serves,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson told the Washington Blade.

“As the first openly transgender person to serve in Congress, her service is a landmark achievement on the march toward equality,” she said. “This historic victory reflects not only increasing acceptance of transgender people in our society, ushered in by the courage of visible leaders like Sarah, but also her dogged work in demonstrating that she is an effective lawmaker who will deliver real results.”

Robinson added, “We are so proud of former HRC National Press Secretary and Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride, excited to see her star rise, and thrilled to have this history-making champion reshaping the halls of Congress.”

In 2020, McBride became the first trans state senator and the highest-ranking trans official in the U.S. She sponsored the Healthy Delaware Families Act, which passed in 2022, which allows for paid 12-week leave funded by automatic payroll contributions.

Prior to running for public office, McBride served as national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign. She also worked for and became close with President Joe Biden’s late son, Beau, who died of cancer in 2015.

McBride remains close with the president and his family. Biden told the Washington Blade during the paper’s sit-down interview with him in September that he called to congratulate her on winning the Democratic primary contest.

Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association.