In June, Equality PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Equality Caucus, gathered in Washington, D.C., for its annual gala.
That night was particularly special and “intense” for Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride, she recalled, because her main Democratic primary challenger had withdrawn from the race for Delaware’s at-large House seat earlier that day. That meant McBride was on the verge of making history: If she wins the solidly blue seat in November — which she likely will — she will become the first openly transgender member of Congress.
“We are expanding LGBTQ representation to an extent that would have been unthinkable for most of our nation’s history. We are on the verge of electing the first trans member of Congress, Sarah McBride,” Equality PAC co-Chair Rep. Ritchie Torres said onstage, pointing to McBride as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.