Democrat Danica Roem defeated Republican Del. Bob Marshall in Virginia's House of Delegates district 13 by about seven points, becoming the first openly transgender person ever to be elected to a state legislature. Marshall was an 11-term incumbent and had served in the House of Delegates since 1991.
Danica Roem (D) has defeated Bob Marshall (R) in HD13. She will be America's first transgender state legislator.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) November 8, 2017
Danica Roem just became the first openly transgender person to ever be elected to a state legislature #Virginia https://t.co/P07KuofrxW
— Samantha Michaels (@sjmichaels) November 8, 2017
Marshall introduced the "Physical Privacy Act" in January 2017 that would mandate people use the bathroom corresponding to their birth sex, and would have notified parents or guardians if their children began to identify as transgender. The bill died shortly after it was introduced, but was quite controversial.
LGBT advocates congratulated Roem for her victory.
Danica Roem didn't only win - she beat a vehemently anti-trans incumbent who called her "a guy who thinks he's a girl who wears a dress."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 8, 2017
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Yeah, so I'm crying now. This is the night I wanted. So happy.#DanicaRoem #ElectionDay
— Charles Clymer?????? (@cmclymer) November 8, 2017
DANICA ROEM WINS! Defeats incumbent "Bigot Bob" to become only trans state legislator in nation! Tell her congrats: https://t.co/ebrjg7UB3U pic.twitter.com/udkdI5cLjH
— Victory Fund (@VictoryFund) November 8, 2017
Transgender freedom fighter Danica Roem has defeated right-wing bigot Bob Marshall best known for sponsoring the Virginia LGBTQ Marriage ban
— Alex Morash (@AlexMorash) November 8, 2017
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