Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride has made history, winning the race for Delaware’s sole U.S. House seat to become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. McBride, a Democrat, decisively defeated Republican John Whalen III on Tuesday.

Whalen, a retired construction company owner and former state trooper, ran a modest campaign in his first attempt at public office. In contrast, McBride has built a national reputation as an LGBTQ advocate, raising over $3 million in campaign funds from across the country. She first gained national attention in 2016, when she became the first openly transgender person to address a major U.S. political party convention at the Democratic National Convention.

Following her Democratic primary win in September, McBride emphasized that her campaign was focused on achieving “historic progress for Delawareans,” rather than simply making history. As a state senator, she earned recognition for championing healthcare issues, including a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program, expanded Medicaid reimbursement rates for home healthcare, and improved access to dental care for low-income residents. She also sponsored a bill that imposed a 3.58% tax on Delaware hospitals' net revenue to secure additional federal Medicaid funding—all of which became law.

Democrats have held Delaware’s U.S. House seat since 2010. The seat opened when Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate, seeking to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Carper. AP