McBride announces run for Congress

Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, the state’s first transgender lawmaker, announced her run for Congress June 26.

In a video announcement, she said she is running for Congress based on the success she had in sponsoring and getting passed the Healthy Delaware Families Act, which gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave a year, and up to six weeks of paid leave for family caregiving. During their leave, workers receive up to 80% of their average weekly wages through the state insurance program.

“This law is a good start, but government should do more to make it easier for people to raise a family. So I’m running for Congress,” she said. “My commitment is to the people in Delaware who aren’t seen. Who don’t shout the loudest or fund political campaigns. Parents busy raising their children; seniors worried about paying for prescription drugs; working people struggling to keep up.”

McBride is seeking Delaware’s lone congressional seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester who is running the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Carper. If elected, McBride would be the first transgender person to hold a seat in the House of Representatives.