WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democrat Sarah McBride could be elected the first transgender member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 5 election, after her primary rival in deeply Democratic Delaware dropped out of the race on Wednesday.
A member of the Delaware state assembly, McBride now faces a clear field in the Sept. 10 primary after Eugene Young, former director of the Delaware State Housing Authority, ended his candidacy. Other candidates have until July 8 to enter the race.
McBride praised Young for having run a positive campaign on X social media, saying, “I know the story of Eugene’s contributions to our state is only just beginning.”
Success in November would mark a major milestone in the acceptance of transgender people in American culture, even as battles over transgender rights have become a partisan flashpoint in a deeply divided nation.
Whoever becomes the Democratic nominee will be heavily favored to win in Delaware, President Joe Biden’s home state. Biden won the 2020 presidential race against Republican then-President Donald Trump, 58.8% to 39.8%.
The lone U.S. House seat from Delaware currently is held by Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is running for the Senate seat held by Thomas Carper, who is retiring at year’s end.
“With trans rights under assault in states across the country, Sarah McBride’s ability to clear the primary field to represent Delaware in Congress proves that voters want their leaders focused on solving the issues that matter to their daily lives – not singling out their trans neighbors,” said Annise Parker, head of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, in an emailed statement.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Leslie Adler)
