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Mayor-elect of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Erica Deuso. (Facebook\/Erica Deuso)<\/p>\n
Mayor-elect of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Erica Deuso. (Facebook\/Erica Deuso)<\/p>\n
Erica Deuso has made history as the first-ever out trans woman to be elected as mayor in the state of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
Deuso, who works in management at pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, was elected as mayor of Downington, Pennsylvania on Tuesday night after defeating Republican Rich Bryant with 64 per cent of the vote, making her the first out trans mayor in the state\u2019s history.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m honored by your trust\u201d<\/p>\n
The 45-year-old, who is bisexual, took to Facebook following her success, writing, \u201cYesterday\u2019s victory shows what we can accomplish when we come together with respect, hope, and purpose. I\u2019m honored by your trust and ready to get to work.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThank you to the voters, poll workers, and election staff who gave everything to make this election possible. And thank you to my opponent, Rich Bryant, for a good race.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing elected as Pennsylvania\u2019s first openly transgender mayor is deeply meaningful, and I carry that responsibility with pride and humility. I hope it reminds anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated that your voice matters, and that you belong in the room where decisions are made.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deuso, a member of Chester County Democratic Committee and treasurer of the Pennsylvania Equality Project<\/a>, focused her campaign<\/a> on public safety, which included a pledge ensuring that local police would not cooperate with federal immigration agents \u201cexcept for where legally obligated\u201d, as well as on infrastructure development and fostering community by creating a \u201cvibrant downtown\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite not focusing her campaign on LGBTQ+ issues, the mayor-elect, who was subjected to anti-trans hate during her campaign, told WHHYY<\/a>: \u201c[W]e pulled off something that would have been unthinkable in Chester County just a few years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNow the work begins. We will build a Downingtown that is safe, sustainable, and strong for everyone who calls it home.\u201d<\/p>\n Her election came amid a night of wins for pro-LGBTQ+ Democrats across the country, with Zohran Mamdani defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo to become the next mayor of New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\n