Virginians elected the first openly transgender state legislator in America on Tuesday night when Danica Roem (D) defeated Bob Marshall (R) in a House of Delegates race. Marshall, a 26-year incumbent who once introduced a so-called “bathroom bill,” ran as a social conservative. Roem’s fundraising numbers tripled those of Marshall, in part due to nationwide support from pro-LGBT groups. Her win was part of a Democratic wave across the state which led to the victory of Democrat Ralph Northam for the governorship.
