These three trailblazers are living proof that progress cannot be stopped. They are evidence that as the LGBTQ+ community grows, we will continue to elect diverse LGBTQ+ people to Congress so that every American can see themselves represented in our government. Their victories send a message to the queer and trans youth who have been under unprecedented attack over the past few years that a successful future where they have a seat at the table is possible. In the words of Sarah McBride, we will ultimately prove that “our democracy is big enough for all of us.” 

From serving as HRC’s first national press secretary, to being the first openly transgender person to address the Democratic National Convention, to being elected as the nation’s first openly transgender state Senator, Sarah McBride has had a career full of “firsts.” Now, the congresswoman-elect will take on yet another first in the nation’s capital as the first openly transgender member of Congress serving in Delaware's at-large seat. 

But more important than making history to McBride, is her love for her home state of Delaware and providing for all Delawareans. In the Delaware Senate, McBride introduced and championed landmark paid family and medical leave, which will take effect in January and will provide the largest investment in state Medicaid since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The bipartisan support received for McBride’s legislation demonstrates her ability to reach across the aisle to deliver for all Americans. 

A second historic victory in November was the election of Julie Johnson, who will represent Texas’s 32nd Congressional District as the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress from the South. As a long-serving volunteer leader for HRC, Julie served in many capacities, including on the Dallas Steering Committee, Board of Governors and Board of Directors and co-chaired the Public Policy Committee. She was also an original member of the Texas State House’s first ever LGBTQ+ Caucus. As you can see, she is no stranger to the fight for equality. 

In Johnson’s home state of Texas, where she has served as a state representative since 2018, there has been an onslaught of discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Johnson’s leadership was critical in defeating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and mitigating the harms of bills that would have had even more disastrous impacts for millions of Texans. Even within a deeply conservative Legislature, Johnson was able to push for progress. In 2019, Johnson introduced a bill that would increase access to lifesaving HIV & AIDS medications. Now, Johnson will bring that same fight to Congress. 

Lastly, growing up in a working-class family in Washington and being a first-generation college graduate, Emily Randall is a champion in whom Americans can see themselves. During her time in the Washington state Senate, Randall was one of two openly LGBTQ+ lawmakers, and she will now represent Washington’s 6th congressional district as the first openly LGBTQ+ Latina in Congress. 

Throughout her career, Randall has had a steadfast commitment to equality. Rising to leadership quickly, Randall became deputy majority leader of the Washington state Senate in 2022, where she prioritized passing reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming healthcare protections. Randall also served as chair on the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, where she helped pass critical legislation to improve access to quality education. 

The victories of Reps.-elect McBride, Johnson and Randall serve as a reminder that attacking the LGBTQ+ community is not a winning strategy — and that the future that MAGA candidates have been fear mongering about — is already here. Despite the smear campaign of anti-transgender ads that ran rampant across the country this election cycle, McBride still won by the highest margin of any Democratic candidate for the Delaware federal delegation, even out-performing Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Not only did these historic candidates win their races, every incumbent openly LGBTQ+ member of the House of Representatives won re-election, including those in competitive front-line races: Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano, (CA-39), Angie Craig (MN-02), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Becca Balint (VT-at Large), Robert Garcia (CA-32), and Eric Sorensen (IL-17). In the Senate, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) won her re-election, where she will continue to be a champion on LGBTQ+ issues as the only openly LGBTQ+ senator. 

No matter what the next four years have in store, we are ready. The LGBTQ+ community showed up and made a clear choice to grow the number of openly LGBTQ+ representatives and re-elect our proven pro-equality champions back to Congress. That's how we prove that we are not going back.