Transgender Candidates
In 2015, I conducted a project (coauthored with Andrew Reynolds) to examine the success rates of transgender and gender-diverse candidates for office around the world. We developed an original dataset of nearly 130 unique candidates (as of November 2015) over nearly 40 years representing at least 30 countries. I presented this research to the British Parliament, London School of Economics, and the 2015 International LGBT Leaders Conference.
I continue to track transgender candidates in the United States,
often with the help of people around the country who take the time to contact me. Thank you!
Notes for Journalists Covering Transgender Issues:
Please see the Trans Journalists Association's
style guide for covering transgender people and issues.
List of Transgender Candidates in the U.S.
2023
2023 Candidacies: 22
2022: 50 | 2021: 24
2020: 50 | 2019: 23
2018: 54 | 2017: 25
2023 Victories: 12
2022: 20 | 2021: 12
2020: 16 | 2019: 15
2018: 10 | 2017: 10
Last updated Tuesday, January 2, 2024
10:30 am Central
2023
NP=non-partisan
green = victory
*=won primary
State Senate (1)
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Danica Roem (D) - Virginia 30 (primary canceled; won in Nov)
State House (2)
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Sylvia Swayne (D) - Alabama 55 (lost primary in Sept for a special election to be held in Jan 2024)
County Commission/Board (1)
Mayor (1)
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Sam Burnett - Amarillo, TX (lost in May)
County Commission (1)
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Joeigh Perella (D) - Cumberland, NJ (lost in Nov)
City Council (14)
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Olivia Hill (D) - Nashville, TN (at-large) (won in Sept)
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Andrea Jenkins (D) [Incumbent] - Minneapolis, MN (Ward 8) (pictured above) (won in Nov, ranked choice)
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Charles Judge (I) - Winooski, VT (won, unopposed, in March)
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Clare Killman - Carbondale, IL (At Large) (won in April)
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Lucy Lauser - Stevenson, WA (won in Nov)
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Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford (D) - Madison, WI (District 15) (won in April)
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Veronica Pejril (D) [Incumbent] - Greencastle, IN (lost in Nov)
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Holly Ryan (D) [Incumbent] - Newton, MA (Ward 8) (lost in Nov)
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Jacquelyn Ryan (D) [Incumbent] - Southbridge, MA (At Large) (lost in June)
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Ashley Shade (I) [Incumbent] - North Adams, MA (won in Nov)
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*Tyler Titus (D), also identifies as nonbinary - Erie, PA (won in Nov; 1 of 3 winners)
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Jack Turnwald (NP), also identifies as nonbinary - Holly Springs, NC (lost in Nov)
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Aime Wichtendahl (D) [Incumbent] - Hiawatha, IA (At Large) (won in Nov; 1 of 3 winners)
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Arya Witner - New Bedford, MA (lost primary in Oct)
School Board (1)
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Judah Largent (D) - Corvallis, OR (won in May, unopposed)
Other Local Offices (1)
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Jackie McKethen - Library Board, Crete, IL (won in April)
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2023 Notes
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Seth Marnin was appointed, not elected, as a judge to the New York State Court of Claims. He is the first known openly transgender man to serve as a judge in the United States.
2024 Notes
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Shear Avory (D) announced she will run for New York State Assembly District 104 in 2024.
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Émilia Decaudin (DS) announced she will run for New York State Assembly District 37 in 2024.
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Justine Gonzalez (D) announced she will run for California State House District 52 in 2024.
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Rosemary Ketchum, currently serving on City Council in Wheeling, WV, announced she will run for Mayor of Wheeling, WV, in 2024.
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Mia Mason (D) announced she will run for U.S. Congress in Maryland's District 6 in 2024.
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Sarah McBride (D), currently a State Senator in Delaware, announced she will run for U.S. Congress in Delaware in 2024.
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Lisa Middleton (D), currently a city councilor in Palm Springs, CA, announced she will run for California State Senate District 19 in 2024.
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Evan Minton (D) announced he will run for California State Assembly District 6 in 2024.
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Jennifer Ney of Iowa says she will run for president in 2024.
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Click here for a list of candidates who ran in 2022.
Click here for a list of candidates who ran in 2021.
Click here for a list of candidates who ran in 2020.
Click here for a list of candidates who ran in 2019.
This is the policy report format of this research project, published in October 2015 by the LGBTQ Representation and Rights Research Initiative. The data regarding candidates (at the time of publication) is included in the report's appendix. If you know of someone we missed, please email me!
Related Press Coverage
2023
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"The Nation's First Transgender State Senator Stands Out by Fitting In." Governing. David Kidd. March 6.
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"World's First Out Transgender Member of Parliament Dies at 65." The Advocate. Christopher Wiggins. March 6.
2022
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"These recently elected trans lawmakers say anti-LGBTQ bills inspired them to run." NBC. Julie Moreau, Nov 30.
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"Rhode Island could elect its first transgender state legislator this year." Boston Globe. Edward Fitzpatrick, August 10.
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"Montana poised to elect first openly trans lawmakers." Montana Free Press. Mara Silvers. June 9.
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"‘We’re not going back to zero’ Transgender politicians are challenging the status quo." USC Annenberg Media. Mia Ross. May 19.
2021
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"'More Gary Coleman than Arnold Schwarzenegger': Caitlyn Jenner's historic run struggles." Los Angeles Times. Julia Wick. July 16.
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"Lesbian, bisexual women more successful at the ballot box than gay men, study shows." NBC News. Julie Moreau. July 8.
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"'Historic' candidacy in Mobile: How Tex Copeland is bringing 'visibility' to the LGBTQ+ community." AL.com. John Sharp. June 21.
2020
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"Trans and nonbinary candidates set record wins in red and blue states." NPR. Piper McDaniel and David Garcia. Nov 9.
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"Transgender representation to nearly double in state legislatures." NBC News. Sydney Bauer. Nov 6.
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"The number of transgender lawmakers doubled this year. Here's a look at races that made history." San Francisco Chronicle. Annie Vainshtein. Nov 5.
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"Kansas makes history, elects retired Wichita teacher as its first transgender legislator." The Wichita Eagle. Denise Neil and Jaime Green. Nov 3.
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"'Blazing the pathway': Retired teacher could become Kansas' first transgender lawmaker." NBC News. Julie Compton. Oct 17.
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"West Virginia, Louisiana elect first openly transgender women to political positions." The Hill. Anagha Srikanth. July 13.
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"In the wake of Hallquist's historic run, 3 transgender women run for House seats." VTDigger. Kit Norton. Jun 2.
2019
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"Transgender candidates won big in elections last night." Out Magazine. Matt Baume. Nov 6.
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"Rainbow Wave 2.0: Nearly 100 LGBTQ candidates claim victory in Tuesday's elections." NBC News. Tim Fitzsimmons. Nov 6.
2018
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"Over 150 LGBTQ candidates claim victory in midterm elections." NBC News. Julie Moreau. Nov 7.
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"Our Political Party System May Be Binary But Our Candidate's Gender Need Not Be." Daily Grab Back. Oct 23.
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"‘I’m Not Running Because I’m Trans’: Meet the Men Fighting to Build Power One State Legislature Seat at a Time." Rewire.News. s.e. smith. Oct 5.
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"Transgender candidates could make history in upcoming races." Reuters. Daniel Trotta. Aug 10.
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"For Trans Candidates, Even Losing is Winning." The Advocate. Jacob Anderson-Minshall. July 26.
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"Where Are the Trans Men in Politics?" HuffPost. Natalie Vikhrov. June 2.
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"For LGBTQ community, 2017 was a mixed bag." NBC News. Brooke Sopelsa and John Paul Brammer. Jan 2.
2017
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"LGBTQ Political Candidates Score Historic Victories Across U.S." NBC News. Julie Moreau. Nov 8.
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"Wins for trans candidates seen as nationwide clarion call." Washington Blade. Chris Johnson. Nov 8.
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"Out for votes: Battle over rights inspires more U.S. transgender candidates." Reuters. Letitia Stein. Oct 31.
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"The Second Coming Out: Trans Candidates and the Quest for Public Service." Esquire Magazine. Nico Lang. Oct 25.
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"For some transgender Texans, bathroom bill fight spurs bids for office." Texas Tribune. Emma Platoff. Sept 20.
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"How Dan Patrick's bathroom bill galvanized transgender Texans." Dallas Morning News. Lauren McGaughy. Aug 20.
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"Transgender Candidate Danica Roem Wins Virginia Primary, Makes History." NBC News. Julie Moreau. June 14.
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"Will 2017 Be the 'Year of the Trans Candidate'?" NBC News. Julie Moreau. June 12.
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"Trump bump? More transgender candidates seek public office." NBC News. Julie Moreau. April.
2016
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Podcast: Dialogues on Democracy. International Foundation for Electoral Systems. June.
2015
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"This map shows the 31 countries where transgender and gender-variant candidates have run for office since 1977." The Washington Post, The Monkey Cage. December.
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"UNC LGBTQ Representation and Rights Initiative Publishes First Report on Transgender Officials." UNC Global. December.
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"Electing transgender officials: A new frontier in politics." The Washington Blade. November.