On Nov. 7, 33-year-old Democrat Danica Roem, a formal journalist, was elected into the Virginia House of Delegates, making her the first transgender individual to do so in that state. She unseated Republican incumbent Bob Marshall, who had been a government official in the Virginia state legislature since 1992.

During her campaign, Danica did address her gender identity, but put more emphasis and focus on topics pertaining to Virginia, such as jobs, the state’s education system and in particular, the traffic issue that is frequent in her district.

“Discrimination is a disqualifier. This is about the people of the 13th District disregarding fear tactics, disregarding phobias……where we celebrate you because of who you are, not despite it,” Roem said on the night of her victory, commenting on her opponent’s usage of fear tactics that attack her gender identity.

Roem will be replacing her opponent, Republican official Robert G. Marshall, who has been on the Virginia House of Delegates since 1992. Marshall disagrees with most of Roem’s assertions for the district. In his recent years of being in office, Marshall proposed a rejected bathroom bill would have prevented the use of restrooms and changing facilities based on an individual’s sex or preferred gender.

Upon Roem’s win, Marshall remarked, “For 26 years I’ve been proud to fight for you, and fight for our future. I’m committed to continue the fight for you, but in a different role going forward.”

Roem’s win is the result of a fierce campaign hat involved Doem knocking on doors 75,000 times in her district and using social media as well as appearing in interviews.