Sarah McBride easily made it through Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Another win in November would make her the first transgender elected to the state legislature.
McBride trounced Joseph McCole in the State Senate District 1 Democratic primary, claiming 91 percent of the vote.
The win gained national attention with Hillary Clinton, Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez and actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson among those tweeting congratulations.
McBride is poised to become the highest ranking transgender official in the country. She is heavily favored to win in November since Democrats enjoy a substantial registration advantage in the 1st Senate District.
“We’ve got incredible people here, and I’m excited that others are getting to see just how big-hearted and just how compassionate and fair-minded this area is,” said McBride.
McBride interned at the White House during the Obama administration, spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention and was a leading advocate for a 2013 Delaware law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment.
She says diversity leads to better public policy.
“I think when more voices are included at the table we all win,” said McBride.
But she adds her campaign is not focused on her identity.
“My identity never came up with voters,” she said. “It didn’t come up on the doors, it doesn’t come up on the phones, it’s not coming up in our conversations with people around this district.”
McBride faces Republican Steve Washington in November’s general election to replace retiring Democrat Harris McDowell, the longest-serving legislator in state history.
