Virginia elects first openly transgender state legislator in US history

Openly transgender female, Danica Roem has become the first openly transgender state legislator in US history. Roem, a Democrat defeated Bob Marshall a Republican, who had been a Virginia Legislator since 1992.

Roem defeated Marshall in last night's election in Virginia.

In January of this year, Bob Marshall introduced an anti-transgender bathroom bill to the Virginia Legislature, a bill which went down in flames in Virginia.

Her win comes alongside Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam's (D) victory in the governor's race Tuesday, the first major victory for Democrats since President Trump took office earlier this year.

Roem, 33, beat Marshall, 73, by more than 10 points with roughly 90 percent of votes counted in preliminary estimates.

Before venturing into politics, Roem was a reporter for the Gainesville Times and the Prince William Times.

Marshall, who referred to himself as Virginia's "chief homophobe," refused to publicly debate Roem before the election. Ads placed by Marshall's campaign also referred to Roem by her birth gender as well.

LGBTQ advocates hailed Roem's victory on Tuesday evening, with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) calling it "a clear warning to anti-equality lawmakers across the country."

Some reactions below: