State Sen. Sarah McBride and John Whalen to face off for congressional seat in November
State Sen. Sarah McBride, a Democrat, will face Republican John Whalen III for Delaware's seat in Congress in November's election.
If elected, McBride would be the first transgender person elected to federal office and the youngest elected official Delaware has sent to Washington since Joe Biden won a Senate seat in 1972.
McBride handily defeated two political newcomers in the Democratic primary, a race that was called shortly after the polls closed Tuesday.
In her victory speech Tuesday night, McBride said, "Our rights, and our freedoms, our dignity and democracy are on the line in this election."
"Tonight, we celebrate our victory in the primary but we all know our work is far from over and we know what is at stake in this election," McBride said.
Whalen, a political newcomer, defeated Donyale Hall in the Republican primary called later Tuesday night. Whalen did not return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday night.
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The winner in November’s general election will assume the congressional seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, who became the Democrats’ candidate to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Carper on Tuesday.
Statistically, McBride is the favorite in November over either Republican. Registered Democrats outnumber Republican voters in Delaware by nearly 150,000.
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McBride previously worked as the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ civil rights advocacy group, and gained national attention when she became the first openly trans person to speak at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.
A Wilmington native, McBride was elected to Delaware's Senate in 2020. On the campaign trail, she has pitched to voters her successful advocacy for statewide family and medical leave legislation in the state house.
Whalen has not held political office and jumped in his race well after Hall, a seasoned Republican campaigner. Whalen is a native of Wilmington and Millsboro resident. He retired after a 20-year career at Delaware State Police and formed a residential construction company.
His campaign has emphasized popular conservative talking points like illegal immigration as well as the federal debt and what his website describes as "the war on fossil fuels."
Heading into November, McBride also holds a massive fundraising advantage over Whalen.
Through August 21, McBride had raised $2.9 million and held $1.7 million unspent. Through the same period, Whalen had reported $2,300 in contributions, an $8,300 loan to his campaign. His campaign has about $2,300 cash on hand.
Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: McBride, Whalen win primaries, set November race for seat in Congress