Sarah McBride, a prominent American advocate for LGBTQ rights, has become the first and only openly transgender state senator in the US after winning the race in Delaware.

With the win, the 30-year-old Democrat has also become the country's highest-ranking transgender official.

Sarah McBride
Sarah McBride

Taking to Twitter, McBride wrote: "We did it. We won the general election. Thank you, thank you, thank you." She will now represent Delaware's 1st Senate District after defeating Republican Steve Washington.

Facts about McBride

  • McBride was endorsed by incumbent Democrat Harris McDowell, who did not seek re-election after 44 years.
  • McBride had interned with the administration of former President Barack Obama, becoming the first transgender woman to work in the White House.
  • In 2016, she hit another milestone by becoming the first transgender person to address the Democratic convention in Philadelphia.
  • According to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, there are currently four transgender people in state legislatures, including Danica Roem, who won a seat in the Virginia House in 2017.