This Delaware lawmaker is hoping to become first openly transgender House member


Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride (D) announced that she would run for the state's U.S. House seat next year. If she is successful, the win will make her the first openly transgender member of the U.S. Congress.
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) currently holds the seat, but she announced that she plans to put in her bid for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Tom Carper (D) after he retires. Both elections are set to take place next year.
McBride is "no stranger to firsts," The New York Times noted, as she became the first openly transgender White House employee as an intern in former President Barack Obama's administration in 2012. She secured her state Senate seat with over 70 percent of the general election vote in 2020, making her the first openly transgender lawmaker in that position nationally. She ran unopposed for a second term last year. She is also the former national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, a prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the U.S.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It's clear that diversity in government is necessary for us to not just ensure we have a healthy democracy but also to truly deliver for people," she told The News Journal in an interview. Though she acknowledges that her win would mark a historic first, "ultimately, I'm not running to be a trans member of Congress," she said.
McBride "is likely to face a primary challenge in her solidly blue district," the Times added. However, she holds "ample political capital in the state" due to her relationship with President Biden. The president wrote the foreword for her 2018 memoir, and she also worked on the attorney general campaigns for his late son Beau Biden, who died in 2015.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
What will security guarantees for Ukraine look like?
Today's Big Question From boots on the ground to economic sanctions, here are the measures that might stop Russia taking another bite out of Ukraine
-
The US Open's controversial 'superstars' doubles format
Talking Point New shortened competition attracts star pairings and bigger audiences to grand slam tennis event
-
Crossword: August 21, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps up
Speed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless
-
Ukraine, European leaders to meet Trump after Putin talks
Speed Read Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week
-
Border agents crash Newsom redistricting kickoff
Speed Read Armed federal Border Patrol agents amassed outside the venue where the California governor and other Democratic leaders were gathered
-
Man charged for hoagie attack as DC fights takeover
Speed Read The Trump administration filed felony charges against a man who threw a Subway sandwich at a federal agent