U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride of Delaware represents hope for the future – The Cauldron
***Disclaimer: this is an opinion piece. This article in no way reflects the views of The Cauldron and its staff. It only reflects the views of the columnist.
During an election, especially presidential ones, it is easy to become wrapped up in the crossfire of politics. For me, this is especially true.
The 2024 U.S. presidential election was the first time I participated in an election. It is mindblowing to me that Donald Trump, now our newly inaugurated 47th president, even remains on the ballot eight years after his first presidential campaign.
As I filled in the bubble next to Kamala Harris’ name, I felt certain that this would be the year the U.S. would get its first female president of color, and even though I do not support all of Harris’ politics, I still believe that her agenda promotes a better America.
So when I woke up on Nov. 6, 2024 to see that Trump had won the electoral college, I instantly felt an empty pit open at the bottom of my stomach. Thoughts began to swirl in my head about what the next four years could look like.
Especially as an AFAB (assigned female at birth) and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of anxiety and fear for how Trump’s presidency may affect my life.
However, while the country was consumed by the reality television show that the media calls politics, other momentous elections occurred across the country that may offer a bit of hope to those experiencing political anxiety.
One of those being in Delaware’s 1st Congressional district.
Later that day, I was scrolling through the ‘For You’ page of TikTok, which was a mess of fear-mongering videos, until I came across one about then-U.S. Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, who is now an official member of the U.S. Congress.
The first openly transgender women to be elected to the U.S. Congress. McBride’s first major political position was as a Delaware State Senator, a seat she won in November 2020. McBride has been fighting for minority rights since 2013 after pushing for anti-gender discrimination legislation.
It is wild to me that it took hours of doom-scrolling to learn about this momentous election.
McBride won in a landslide this past election with 58% of the popular vote compared to her Republican opponent, who received 41% of the popular vote.
McBride is an outspoken activist for many important issues, sharing during an interview with PBS NewsHour days after her victory that she wishes to “focus on bringing down costs facing families, to provide affordable housing, childcare and healthcare to every single one of my neighbors.”
Learning that McBride had won a seat in Congress came as a surprise to me, especially knowing how conservative media outlets like Fox News, DailyWire and other Republican networks villainized transgender individuals.
The news of McBride’s success has reminded me that the next four years will not be the downfall of America.
Feeling scared and uncertain about how a second Trump term will affect life is a valid fear. But there is good news amid the weeds of the widespread political fear-mongering, and although Harris was not elected to office, there are still women fighting for equality in the government.