Democrat Sarah McBride made history as the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, according to projections by Edison Research on Tuesday. She won Delaware’s at-large congressional seat.
McBride, 34, previously served as a state senator and secured her primary win in September in the solidly Democratic district.
Her election marks another milestone in a groundbreaking career: she became the first openly transgender state senator in 2020, the first openly transgender person to speak at a U.S. national political convention in 2016, and the first to intern at the White House in 2012 under former President Barack Obama.
Meanwhile, Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in North Carolina, a key battleground state, in Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election, according to projections from Edison Research. This win brings Trump closer to a remarkable political comeback.
The race remained undecided in six other states crucial to determining the overall winner.
Trump was showing strong support across much of the country, leading with 230 Electoral College votes to Harris’ 182 as of 11:30 p.m. ET (4:30 a.m. GMT on Wednesday). To secure the presidency, a candidate must reach 270 votes in the Electoral College.
Decision Desk HQ also projected that Trump would carry Georgia, narrowing Harris’ potential path to victory, which would now rely heavily on the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—where she currently trails.
Trump gained ground with Hispanic voters and lower-income households, who have felt economic pressures in recent years, according to exit polls from Edison. Nationwide, Trump received 45% of the Hispanic vote, trailing Harris’ 53% but representing a 13-point increase over his 2020 performance.
Voters focused on the economy largely favored Trump, especially if they felt financially worse off than in 2020. Approximately 31% of voters cited the economy as their top issue, backing Trump by a 79%-to-20% margin. Additionally, 45% of voters said their family’s financial situation had worsened over the past four years, supporting Trump 80% to 17% over Harris.
