Danica Roem won!
She was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates!
She was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates!
Danica Roem is Va.’s first openly transgender elected official, unseating conservative in House raceThe Republican bigot lost bigtime, Mr. Marshall has been in office since 1991! Ms. Roem won by around 10 points.
Washington Post
By Antonio Olivo
November 7 at 8:25 PM
Democrat Danica Roem ousted longtime incumbent Del. Robert G. Marshall (R) Tuesday, becoming the first openly transgender elected official in Virginia — and one of very few in the nation.
The race between Roem, 33, and Marshall, 73, focused on traffic and other local issues in Prince William County but also exposed the nation’s fault lines over gender identity. It pitted a local journalist who began her physical gender transition four years ago against an outspoken social conservative who has referred to himself as Virginia’s “chief homophobe” earlier this year introduced a “bathroom bill” that died in committee.
“For 26 years I’ve been proud to fight for you, and fight for our future,” Marshall said in a message posted on Facebook Tuesday night. “Though we all wish tonight would have turned out differently, I am deeply grateful for your support and effort over the years.
“I’m committed to continue the fight for you, but in a different role going forward.”
A cable television ad by Marshall’s campaign questioned Roem’s moral judgment with brief footage from a five-year-old music video she appeared in with her band. A scene from the video, which did not appear fully in the ad, is suggestive of a group of people having oral sex.Congratulations Danica Roem, a well-deserved victory.
A state Republican Party flier accused Roem of “wanting transgenderism taught to kindergartners” — a reference to a radio interview in which she supported the idea of addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender matters in schools “in an age-appropriate manner.”
Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University, said Marshall may have erred in making too much of Roem’s transgender identity while refusing to participate in public-policy debates.
I listened to a phone interview with her on MSNBC last night after she won. She was very impressive. She's not anywhere close to my district and while I was aware of the race I didn't know the particulars. Good for Virginians for finally waking up.
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