Danica Roem, a Democrat for delegate in Virginia’s District 13, and who is transgender, sits in her campaign office on Sept. 22, 2017, in Manassas, Virginia. (Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
Virginia Democrat Danica Roem defeated Bob Marshall Tuesday night, becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected and seated to a state legislature in the U.S.
Roem won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, one of many Democrats to take over Republican-held seats in the commonwealth. She will represent the 13th District, in Prince William County, an suburban area outside Washington, D.C.
Marshall, who has represented the state in the House since 1992, has consistently been at odds with the LGBT community. In 2015, Marshall was very outspoken against Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s so-called “gay agenda.”
He introduced House Bill 1414, that would allow anyone who obtained a state license to morally or religiously object to serving someone who is gay or lesbian.
A decade ago, he referred to himself as Virginia’s “chief homophobe,” the Washington Post reported.
Roem’s victory still came as a surprise to many, though she won by nearly 10 percent.
In the run-up to the election, Roem focused on issues such as jobs, traffic and local schools, opting not to make gender issues a cornerstone of her campaign.
“As a journalist, Danica Roem has covered the issues critical to Virginians and listened to a wide range of perspectives,” said Virginia House Democratic Caucus Leader David J. Toscano and Caucus Chair Charnielle Herring in a released statement. “During her campaign, Danica expanded this approach by listening to area residents’ concerns and making them integral to her own policy platform.”
To take control of the House of Delegates, Democrats need to gain 17 seats. They had gained 10 as of early evening Tuesday.
Smile, we might make history today
(by fixing route 28) @MariaS_227 @pwcdanica #GameOnVA http://pic.twitter.com/FWU4u1R2GL
— Hannah Grace (@Hannah_McDona1d) November 7, 2017
from KTLA http://ift.tt/2As3tPi
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