Release: Sarah McBride Announces Campaign for Delaware’s At-Large Congressional Seat
In DE State Senate, McBride Has Led the Way in Proving That Small States Can Do Big Things, Such as Passing Her Bipartisan Paid Family and Medical Leave Law
McBride Launches Campaign with Endorsements from More Than 20 DE Elected Officials and Broad Coalition of Organizers, Labor Leaders and Community Organizations
Wilmington, DE— Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride, a proven changemaker who has built bridges to deliver for Delawareans, today announced that she is running for Congress to succeed Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester as the state’s at-large member in the House of Representatives. In a video released this morning announcing her candidacy, McBride vows to fight for Delaware families and build on her successful track record of passing critical policies, such as the landmark Healthy Delaware Families Act, and improving the lives of her constituents. McBride would be the first openly trans person to serve in Congress.
“I’m running for Congress to be the voice that Delaware needs to make government work better for all families, especially when hard times hit,” said Senator McBride. “I've spent my life advocating for my neighbors and delivering real results, from landmark policies to historic investments to protect our families. As a caregiver for my late husband, Andy, I experienced some of the struggles that too many families face when their loved one is seriously ill. That’s why I led our state in passing the Healthy Delaware Families Act to provide paid medical and family leave to workers up and down our state.
“This campaign isn't just about making history – it's about moving forward. To strengthen our democracy, we need effective leaders who believe in taking bold action and building bridges for lasting progress. In Congress, I'll support a strong agenda that invests in workers and families, addresses gun violence, protects access to abortion and tackles climate change.”
“Everyone deserves a member of Congress who sees them and respects them. During a time when too many politicians want to divide us, I promise to be a leader that blocks out the noise and focuses on what really matters. I look forward to earning the votes of Delawareans across our great state and continuing to prove that small states can do big things.”
McBride also announced an extensive first round of endorsers including more than twenty Delaware elected officials, community organizers, labor leaders and community and national advocacy organizations.
“I’ve been inspired by Sarah’s leadership for years,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “She has been a fearless partner in our work reducing gun violence by 50% and helped to lead the charge on some of the most significant gun safety legislation our state has passed in years. She’s been a champion for public safety, smart justice, and anti-corruption reforms. And she has proven that when she starts a job, she gets it done. Sarah is a once-in-a-lifetime talent — and with big shoes left to fill in Congress, it’s clear that Delaware needs her talent and intellect in Washington.”
"Sarah McBride has been a steadfast and effective champion for workers and their families in the Delaware State Senate,” said Nelson Hill with UFCW Local 27, Delaware's largest private sector union. “Working people across Delaware need a member of Congress who has a record of taking on big challenges and delivering for them -- and Sarah is exactly that leader. We are excited to join working families across the state to make Sarah McBride Delaware's next member of Congress."
“I am proud to endorse Sarah McBride to succeed our Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sarah rolls up her sleeves every day to work on some of the toughest challenges facing our state,” said State Auditor Lydia York. “Beyond her work passing Delaware's paid leave law and improving our state's health care policies, Sarah also fought to increase government transparency by introducing bills to address abuse of power and obstruction of justice. I look forward to supporting her candidacy for Congress.”
“Senator McBride has been an asset to our caucus even long before her election in 2020. Sarah was no stranger to Legislative Hall when she first ran for office, as she had visited on several occasions lobbying my colleagues to support marriage equality and non-discrimination laws throughout the 2010s,” said Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Sokola. “Today, she is a valuable member of the Senate Majority Caucus who is not afraid to tackle some of the biggest issues facing our state. As a freshman legislator, she passed the largest expansion of Delaware's social safety net in decades by providing workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. When she rises to speak on the Senate floor, she commands the room and has the ability to change people's minds. She leads with empathy and conviction — two qualities that will serve her well in the halls of Congress.”
Members of the state legislature endorsing Senator McBride include: Senate President Pro Tempore David P. Sokola, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman; Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha; Rep. Kendra Johnson; Rep. Debra Heffernan; Rep. Krista Griffith; Rep. DeShanna Neal; Rep. Sophie Phillips; Rep. Kim Williams; Rep. Paul Baumbach; Rep. Ed Osienski; Rep. Cyndie Romer; Senator Laura Sturgeon; Senator Russ Huxtable; Senator Kyra Hoffner; Senator Spiros Mantzavinos; Senator Jack Walsh; Senator Kyle Evans Gay; Senator Stephanie Hansen; and Senator Nicole Poore.
Community leaders and organizers endorsing Senator McBride include: Matt Denn; Claire Simmers, Thea Lopez; John Starke; Mitch Crane; Norman Griffiths; Tracey Miller; Paulette Rappa; Jeff Balk; Joe Sakaduski; Elyse Reznick; Kathy Hughes; Harry Gold; Mara Gorman; Traci Manza Murphy; Adriana Bohm; Cynthia Gooch Copley; Nick Beard; Lucy Comstock Gay; Kat Caudle; Fay Jacobs; Peter Schott; Ron Olivieri; Dave Woodside; Dawn Alexander; Jack Buccionni; Shaku BhayaKori Beaman; Jose Matthews; Drew Fennell; Kemal Erkan; Louisa Phillips; and Erik Raser-Schramm.
Local and national organizations that will announce endorsements of Senator McBride include:
End Citizens United / Let America Vote
Equality PAC
Human Rights Campaign
LPAC
Victory Fund
Below is the text of McBride’s announcement video:
One of the questions I get asked the most is: “What does it take to make government work better for people?”
Some people say it’s compassion for others, a willingness to work with anyone or having a thick skin.
That’s all true – and for me, it definitely takes one more thing: my morning coffee.
Every day, I get up and go to work. My job is to represent 50,000 of my neighbors.
It can be tough out there – too many politicians want to divide us, to tell us that teachers, doctors, even our own neighbors are the enemy.
Blocking out the noise and focusing on what actually matters isn’t easy.
That part takes more than coffee; it takes guts and a backbone.
That’s how we finally got paid family and medical leave in Delaware.
For years, working people had to choose between their job and supporting a family member with cancer, between their paycheck and spending a few weeks with their newborn child.
So, I ran for the State Senate to change that.
We listened to unions and small business owners, brought people together, stood up to some big lobbyists, and got it done.
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.
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, and working people struggling to keep up.
Everyone deserves a Member of Congress who sees them and who respects them.
Making a difference in Congress will take a lot of hard work – and a lot of coffee.
I hope you’ll join me.
ABOUT SARAH MCBRIDE
Sarah McBride represents roughly 50,000 Delawareans in the First State Senate District, which includes parts of Wilmington and Brandywine Hundred. Sarah grew up in Wilmington and has been advocating for her community for decades. She worked for former Governor Jack Markell, the late Attorney General Beau Biden, and served in the Obama White House. Most recently, she served as the national spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ equal rights organization.
When McBride was elected in November 2020, she became the first openly transgender state senator in American history. In just her first term, McBride passed the landmark Healthy Delaware Families Act, providing paid family and medical leave to workers throughout the First State and marking the largest expansion of Delaware's social safety net in decades. She also passed legislation expanding access to health care, requiring mental health and media literacy education in public schools, promoting green technologies, preventing lead poisoning in youth, and protecting workers and families.
McBride currently serves as chair of the Senate Health & Social Services Committee and is a member of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee, Education Committee, Banking, Business, Insurance, and Technology Committee, and Executive Committee.
Sarah married her late husband Andrew Cray in 2014 and is the proud aunt of seven. She is a graduate of Cab Calloway School of the Arts and American University. McBride has taught public policy at the University of Delaware and is the author of the 2018 memoir, “Tomorrow Will Be Different,” which includes a foreword from President Joe Biden.
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