Democratic State Senator Sarah McBride is gearing up to take on Republican John Whalen III in the upcoming November elections for Delaware’s congressional seat.

If she wins, McBride would become the first transgender individual to hold a federal office and would also be the youngest Delawarean to represent the state in Washington since Joe Biden’s election to the Senate in 1972.

She clinched a decisive victory in the Democratic primary, beating two other political novices, with the results confirmed shortly after voting closed on Tuesday.

In her acceptance speech on Tuesday night, McBride stated, “This election puts our rights, freedoms, dignity, and democracy at stake.”

“Tonight, we celebrate our primary win, but we recognize the work ahead and what is truly at risk in this election,” she added.

John Whalen, a first-time candidate, came out on top against Donyale Hall in the Republican primary, which was also confirmed on Tuesday night. Whalen did not respond to requests for comments on the same evening.

The individual who wins in the November general election will take over the congressional position left vacant by U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, who became the Democratic candidate to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Tom Carper on Tuesday.

According to statistics, McBride is currently favored to win against either Republican candidate, as Delaware has nearly 150,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.

Before her political career, McBride served as the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ civil rights organization in the U.S. She gained national recognition as the first openly transgender person to address the Democratic National Convention in 2016.

A Wilmington native, McBride was elected to Delaware’s Senate in 2020. During her campaign, she has highlighted her success in advocating for family and medical leave legislation in the state legislature.

Whalen is new to the political arena and entered the race after Hall, a more experienced Republican candidate. A Wilmington native who now resides in Millsboro, Whalen retired from the Delaware State Police after a 20-year career and established a construction business.

His campaign has focused on well-known conservative issues, including illegal immigration, the federal debt, and what he describes as “the assault on fossil fuels.”

As the November election approaches, McBride significantly leads in fundraising compared to Whalen.

As of August 21, McBride had raised $2.9 million and still had $1.7 million available. In comparison, Whalen reported only $2,300 in donations along with an $8,300 loan to his campaign, leaving him with about $2,300 in cash.

If you need to reach out, contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com.