If the results of this week’s elections in the US have proved anything, it’s that Americans are getting tired of anti-trans politicians. A slew of historical state and city-wide elections across the US saw a major victory sweep for pro-LGBTQ+ Democrats. In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger obliterated the glass ceiling by becoming the state’s first woman […] The post US election results show Americans ‘rejecting divisive politics’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.
If the results of this week’s elections in the US have proved anything, it’s that Americans are getting tired of anti-trans politicians.
A slew of historical state and city-wide elections across the US saw a major victory sweep for pro-LGBTQ+ Democrats.
In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger obliterated the glass ceiling by becoming the state’s first woman governor, while New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, known for his support of LGBTQ+ rights protections, became the state’s governor-elect.
But by far the biggest win was Zohran Mamdani’s historic victory in New York City, making him the city’s first Muslim mayor and the youngest since 1892.
The 34-year-old didn’t hesitate on his LGBTQ+ allyship post-victory, vowing to protect the trans community during a late speech in Brooklyn.
“Here we believe in standing up for those we love, whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many Black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of gorceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall,” he said.
The array of wins has, several human rights groups argue, dismantled the idea that transphobia is a winning strategy for American politicians.
Election proves Americans care about ‘fairness, dignity, and respect’
LGBTQ+ nonprofit GLAAD said the election results definitively proved that divisive politics simply don’t work.
Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD’s president and CEO, said: “Today’s election results make one thing clear: Americans are rejecting divisive politics that target LGBTQ+ people and instead demanding leadership that focuses on the issues that matter for all Americans including affordability, family, and freedom.”
The popularity of candidates like Mamdani, GLAAD argues, stems from their willingness not just to stand by their support for LGBTQ+ rights, but to incorporate that support into issues that, statistically speaking, the US population is more focused on such as the economy, healthcare, or the climate crisis.
New York City native, Ellis, commended Mamdani’s focus on ensuring the safety and inclusion of all New Yorkers, including LGBTQ+ residents.
“His election signals that voters value leaders who treat all community members with fairness, dignity, and respect.”
Those three elements, in voters’ minds, were exactly what Mamdani’s main electoral rival, Andrew Cuomo, lacked.
During his million dollar-funded campaign, Cuomo failed to excite or even relate to New Yorkers. At its worst, his run was brutally marred by sexual harassment allegations against him. At its best, his campaign team pumped out nonsensical AI-generated videos, one of which featured racist caricatures of street criminals expressing support for Mamdani.
Over in Virginia, Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, who lost the race with just 44.5 per cent of the vote, spent an estimated $2 million per week on campaign ads villanising transgender people.
His transphobic touting, unsurprisingly, failed to resonate with voters compared to governor-elect Spanberger’s campaign focusing on minimising living costs and strengthening public services.
The numbers don’t lie – according to an April Gallup poll, 60 per cent of US voters care a great deal about the economy, while 59 per cent are focused on healthcare and 56 per cent on inflation.
Comparitevly, as of 25 October, just 1 per cent of voters view LGBTQ+ rights as a top issue.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president, Kelley Robinson, said the facts prove that voters care more about politicians that “put the people first.”
She added: “Voters weren’t fooled by millions of dollars in cruel, transphobic ads and sent a message that they want real leadership that delivers results for their lives and livelihoods, not tired hate, division, and chaos.”
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