The midterms saw big wins as a blue wave swept across the country, with a number of states electing their first ever trans lawmakers.
Washington made history by electing Jaelynn Scott, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, who became not just the state’s first ever trans lawmaker but the country’s first ever black trans lawmaker. The Midwest saw two trans women win positions in the state house, with Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford being elected in Wisconsin; and Joanna Whaley, who was endorsed by Abdul Al-Sayed and Sarah McBride, winning in Michigan.
Some especially surprising wins came from the south, with state house wins by Bentley Hudgins in Georgia, and Allison Montgomery in Alabama. Even deep-red Florida made history with the election of Quinnie Perez in a local election for the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District.
While all champions of trans rights in their states, across the board trans candidates won campaigning on issues of affordability, healthcare access, and workers’ rights.
Unfortunately, the midterms weren’t entirely wins, with anti-trans ballot measures managing to succeed in four states, including two democratic strongholds.
Arizona passed Prop 318, which establishes a trans bathroom ban and disallows trans girls from playing on girls’ sports teams. Nebraska passed Measure 442, a constitutional amendment also banning trans girls from girls’ sports. Colorado saw two measures pass, both a sports ban and a ban on gender affirming surgeries for trans minors.
The most extreme measure, however, came from the extremely blue and historically trans-friendly Washington state. Initiative 638 not only bans trans girls from girls’ sports, but also requires that all girls wanting to participate in school sports must provide medical documentation proving that they are not trans. The testing required entails either very expensive genetic testing or an invasive physical examination of any prospective athlete’s genitals.
Colorado lawmakers have already opened discussions on defeating its measures. And the main oppositional organization in Washington state, No Hate in Washington State, has stated the initiative is “likely unconstitutional,” and that they expect it to be challenged in court.
Perhaps the largest upset of the midterms was in Texas, where top to bottom races were won by Democrats, flipping the traditionally red stronghold solidly blue. As the state under Abbott and Paxton had served as a spearhead for many anti-trans policies in the US, the results of this election are lending hope of relief to Texas’ trans community.
With numerous positions in the state flipping from red to blue, for trans Texans, the most notable are those of governor and AG; as well as four supreme court seats, giving democrats a 5-4 majority.
What these results mean for trans Texans is, at the very least, no further escalation of hateful anti-trans policies. And, optimistically, it could mean the full reversal of most or even all of the state’s anti-trans policies.
