Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride announced Monday she's running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Already the first openly transgender state senator elected in the country, she'd be the first transgender member of Congress if she wins in November.

In a video posted to social media, McBride, a Democrat, said people deserve a representative “who sees them and who respects them.” Her announcement also highlighted her support for paid family leave, which passed the state Senate last year.

“This law is a good start, but government should do more to make it easier for people to raise a family,” she said. “So I'm running for Congress.”

McBride was elected in 2020 in a heavily Democratic district stretching from northern Wilmington to the Pennsylvania border. There are several other transgender legislators around the country but she's the first trans member of any state Senate.

McBride interned at the White House under former President Barack Obama and made history at the 2016 Democratic National Convention as the first openly trans person to speak at a major party convention.

McBride has long-standing ties to Delaware’s best-known political family. She worked on the late Beau Biden’s campaigns for state attorney general, and Beau’s father, President Joe Biden, wrote the foreword to her memoir. She also worked on the campaign of former Gov. Jack Markell.

She succeeded fellow Democrat Harris McDowell, who held the Senate seat since 1976 and endorsed McBride’s candidacy.

McBride’s campaign generated interest and money from around the country, bringing in more than $270,000 in donations as of early October 2020, eclipsing fundraising totals even for candidates for statewide office in Delaware.

A former student body president at American University, McBride started in politics as a volunteer for Matt Denn, former legal counsel to Delaware’s governor, during his successful 2004 campaign for insurance commissioner. Denn, who later served as lieutenant governor and attorney general, worked with McBride’s father at a Wilmington law firm known for its close ties to the Democratic Party establishment.

Share:
More In Politics
House Passes GOP Tax Plan
On Tuesday the House passed the Republican Tax Plan by a 227-203 margin. Politico Tax Reporter Aaron Lorenzo explains the path forward for this legislation in the Senate, and how individuals and corporations will be impacted.
Between Bells: December 19, 2017
This Changes Things provides advice for the executives and leaders of tomorrow, powered by American Express OPEN. Between Bells has the latest tech, culture, and business news.
Politfact Check: Tax Reform
Jon Greenberg, Staff Writer for Politifact talks some of the rhetoric around tax reform, as the House takes the bill to the floor Tuesday for debate, and a possible vote.
Investing In Your Vices
You may love weed, alcohol, and tobacco, but would you also like to invest in those things? AdvisorShares thinks you will. The actively managed exchange-traded funds company recently launched AdvisorShares VICE ETF, the only ETF solely concentrating on companies associated with alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco.
Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief: "We Are Never Going Back"
During a special episode of Cheddar's Closing Bell in partnership with Cosmopolitan, we discussed the flood of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against men in power, the shift happening for women in the workplace, and how to continue the conversation forward in 2018. Cheddar Anchor Kristen Scholer, Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Michele Promaulayko, and Cosmopolitan Director of Editorial and Business Development Laura Brounstein take a look back at the hour inside the #MeToo movement.
How to Combat Gender Pay Gap at a Local Level
More people are calling for legislation to create a safer environment for women in the workplace. New York City Public Advocate Letitia James explains how she is pushing for change in legislation at the local level.
Sparking the #MeToo Movement
In 2016 Gretchen Carlson sued her former boss Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. This opened the floodgates for more women to come forward against Ailes. In a special hour in partnership with Cosmopolitan, Carlson shares why she was inspired to speak up.
Load More