Transgender Democrat Danica Roem has made political history once again, as she is projected to win election to Virginia’s state Senate. This victory will make her the commonwealth’s first openly transgender state senator. Preliminary results show Roem with a 3% lead over her conservative Republican opponent, Bill Woolf, a former Fairfax County police detective endorsed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Woolf, a father of four girls, had campaigned on a promise to ban transgender athletes from school sports teams. However, Roem’s projected win in the 30th Senate District marks another milestone in her political career. Six years ago, she made headlines by defeating conservative Bob Marshall, a 13-term incumbent, to become the nation’s first openly transgender state lawmaker in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Roem took to social media to declare victory and took a jab at Woolf, stating, “The voters have shown they want a leader who will prioritize fixing roads, feeding kids, and protecting our land instead of stigmatizing trans kids or taking away our civil rights.” She emphasized her commitment to serving all constituents, regardless of their backgrounds or identities.
Throughout her campaign, Roem focused on issues of equality rights, abortion, and her past legislation that guarantees hot meals to public school students, which was signed by Governor Youngkin. Her win in the state Senate adds to a successful night for Virginia Democrats, as they maintained control of the state Senate and gained control of the state House of Delegates.
This historic election emphasizes the progress being made in promoting diversity and inclusion in politics. Danica Roem’s victory serves as a milestone for the LGBTQ+ community and highlights the importance of representation in government.