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.
2024
2024 Candidacies: 18 and counting
2023: 22
2022: 50 | 2021: 24
2020: 50 | 2019: 23
2018: 54 | 2017: 25
2024 Victories: 1 and counting
2023: 12
2022: 20 | 2021: 12
2020: 16 | 2019: 15
2018: 10 | 2017: 10
Last updated Friday, April 12, 2024
8:30 am Central
2024
NP=non-partisan
green = victory
*=won primary
U.S. House
-
Callie Butcher (D) - Texas 32
-
Sarah McBride (D) - Delaware At-Large
-
Rivule Sykes (Green) - Louisiana 5
State Senate
-
*Ari Faber (D) - Ohio 30
-
*Lisa Middleton (D) - California 28
State House
-
Jaelynn Abegg (D) - Kansas 105
-
*Bobbie Brooke Arnold (D) - Ohio 40
-
Ashley Brundage (D) - Florida 65
-
*Arienne Childrey (D) - Ohio 84
-
Erica Deuso (D) - Pennsylvania 155
-
Leigh Finke (D) [Incumbent] - Minnesota 66A
-
Mo Jenkins (D) - Texas 139 (pictured above)
-
Evan Minton (D) - California 6 (lost primary in March)
- Aime Wichtendahl (D) - Kansas 80
County Commission/Board
-
Cami Richardson - Summit County, UT
Mayor
-
Rosemary Ketchum - Wheeling, WV
City Council
- Vered Meltzer (I) [Incumbent] - Appleton, WI, District 2 (won in Apr)
- Charlotte Scherer - Alexandria, VA
School Board
Other Local Offices
---
2024 Notes
-
Shear Avory (D) announced in summer 2023 a run for New York State Assembly District 104 in 2024, but so far, no website or other information is yet available.
-
Émilia Decaudin (DS) announced in summer 2023 a run for New York State Assembly District 37 in 2024, but later withdrew from the race.
-
Justine Gonzalez announced in summer 2023 a run for California State Assembly District 52, but withdrew in Sept 2023.
-
Vanessa Joy (D) ran for Ohio State House District 50, but was disqualified from running due to not disclosing her previous name ("deadname") on her initial paperwork. See this coverage for more, including other candidates whose candidacies are being challenged under the same premise. Because she did not appear on the primary ballot, she is not included in the above count.
-
Mia Mason (D) ran briefly for U.S. Congress in Maryland's District 6 in 2024, but withdrew prior to the May primary.
-
Jennifer Ney of Iowa said in summer 2023 that she would run for president in 2024, and she has registered as a candidate with the FEC, but so far, no website or other information is yet available.
---
Click here for a list of candidates who ran in 2023.
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
2024
-
"Trans candidates face challenges to get on Ohio ballots over 'deadnames.'" The Washington Post. Anumita Kaur. Jan 22.
2023
-
"The Nation's First Transgender State Senator Stands Out by Fitting In." Governing. David Kidd. March 6.
-
"World's First Out Transgender Member of Parliament Dies at 65." The Advocate. Christopher Wiggins. March 6.
2022
-
"These recently elected trans lawmakers say anti-LGBTQ bills inspired them to run." NBC. Julie Moreau, Nov 30.
-
"Rhode Island could elect its first transgender state legislator this year." Boston Globe. Edward Fitzpatrick, August 10.
-
"Montana poised to elect first openly trans lawmakers." Montana Free Press. Mara Silvers. June 9.
-
"‘We’re not going back to zero’ Transgender politicians are challenging the status quo." USC Annenberg Media. Mia Ross. May 19.
2021
-
"'More Gary Coleman than Arnold Schwarzenegger': Caitlyn Jenner's historic run struggles." Los Angeles Times. Julia Wick. July 16.
-
"Lesbian, bisexual women more successful at the ballot box than gay men, study shows." NBC News. Julie Moreau. July 8.
-
"'Historic' candidacy in Mobile: How Tex Copeland is bringing 'visibility' to the LGBTQ+ community." AL.com. John Sharp. June 21.
2020
-
"Trans and nonbinary candidates set record wins in red and blue states." NPR. Piper McDaniel and David Garcia. Nov 9.
-
"Transgender representation to nearly double in state legislatures." NBC News. Sydney Bauer. Nov 6.
-
"The number of transgender lawmakers doubled this year. Here's a look at races that made history." San Francisco Chronicle. Annie Vainshtein. Nov 5.
-
"Kansas makes history, elects retired Wichita teacher as its first transgender legislator." The Wichita Eagle. Denise Neil and Jaime Green. Nov 3.
-
"'Blazing the pathway': Retired teacher could become Kansas' first transgender lawmaker." NBC News. Julie Compton. Oct 17.
-
"West Virginia, Louisiana elect first openly transgender women to political positions." The Hill. Anagha Srikanth. July 13.
-
"In the wake of Hallquist's historic run, 3 transgender women run for House seats." VTDigger. Kit Norton. Jun 2.
2019
-
"Transgender candidates won big in elections last night." Out Magazine. Matt Baume. Nov 6.
-
"Rainbow Wave 2.0: Nearly 100 LGBTQ candidates claim victory in Tuesday's elections." NBC News. Tim Fitzsimmons. Nov 6.
2018
-
"Over 150 LGBTQ candidates claim victory in midterm elections." NBC News. Julie Moreau. Nov 7.
-
"Our Political Party System May Be Binary But Our Candidate's Gender Need Not Be." Daily Grab Back. Oct 23.
-
"‘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.
-
"Transgender candidates could make history in upcoming races." Reuters. Daniel Trotta. Aug 10.
-
"For Trans Candidates, Even Losing is Winning." The Advocate. Jacob Anderson-Minshall. July 26.
-
"Where Are the Trans Men in Politics?" HuffPost. Natalie Vikhrov. June 2.
-
"For LGBTQ community, 2017 was a mixed bag." NBC News. Brooke Sopelsa and John Paul Brammer. Jan 2.
2017
-
"LGBTQ Political Candidates Score Historic Victories Across U.S." NBC News. Julie Moreau. Nov 8.
-
"Wins for trans candidates seen as nationwide clarion call." Washington Blade. Chris Johnson. Nov 8.
-
"Out for votes: Battle over rights inspires more U.S. transgender candidates." Reuters. Letitia Stein. Oct 31.
-
"The Second Coming Out: Trans Candidates and the Quest for Public Service." Esquire Magazine. Nico Lang. Oct 25.
-
"For some transgender Texans, bathroom bill fight spurs bids for office." Texas Tribune. Emma Platoff. Sept 20.
-
"How Dan Patrick's bathroom bill galvanized transgender Texans." Dallas Morning News. Lauren McGaughy. Aug 20.
-
"Transgender Candidate Danica Roem Wins Virginia Primary, Makes History." NBC News. Julie Moreau. June 14.
-
"Will 2017 Be the 'Year of the Trans Candidate'?" NBC News. Julie Moreau. June 12.
-
"Trump bump? More transgender candidates seek public office." NBC News. Julie Moreau. April.
2016
-
Podcast: Dialogues on Democracy. International Foundation for Electoral Systems. June.
2015
-
"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.
-
"UNC LGBTQ Representation and Rights Initiative Publishes First Report on Transgender Officials." UNC Global. December.
-
"Electing transgender officials: A new frontier in politics." The Washington Blade. November.