Delaware makes history as Sarah McBride and Lisa Blunt Rochester take the oath in Washington

Key Takeaways:

• Lisa Blunt Rochester becomes Delaware’s first Black woman senator.
• Sarah McBride is sworn in as the first transgender person to serve in Congress.
• Both have extensive backgrounds in public service and bipartisan collaboration.
• Blunt Rochester has focused on workforce development and health care reform.
• McBride has been a leading advocate for progressive issues, including paid family leave.

A Historic Day for Delaware

WASHINGTON — It’s a historic day for Delaware as two trailblazing politicians take their oaths of office, marking significant firsts in the nation’s political landscape.

Lisa Blunt Rochester’s Trail to the Senate

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Wilmington, 62-year-old Lisa Blunt Rochester has made a name for herself through decades of public service. After interning for then-Congressman Tom Carper while juggling motherhood, Blunt Rochester’s dedication to her community led her to significant roles, including deputy secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and the state’s first female and Black labor secretary in 1998.

In 2016, she broke barriers by becoming Delaware’s first female and first Black member of Congress. Now, after four terms in the U.S. House, Blunt Rochester is sworn into the Senate, becoming one of only four Black women ever elected to the chamber and one of two serving in the 119th Congress alongside Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks.

“My journey has always been about service and breaking down barriers,” Blunt Rochester has often said. Her legislative efforts, such as the bipartisan Clean Slate Act introduced with U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., aim to seal records of individuals with low-level drug offenses, reflecting her commitment to criminal justice reform.

Sarah McBride Makes Congressional History

At 34, Sarah McBride steps into history as the first transgender person to serve in Congress. Her political career is marked by a series of groundbreaking accomplishments. McBride was already the nation’s highest-ranking openly transgender elected official as a Delaware state senator, where she championed the state’s paid medical and family leave program in 2022.

Despite facing opposition and targeted attacks on Capitol Hill regarding her identity, McBride remains undeterred. “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms,” she stated firmly, dismissing distractions. Her focus lies on substantive issues such as increasing the federal minimum wage, investing in renewable energy, and expanding health care access.

McBride’s journey began with her coming out as transgender in 2012 through her college newspaper at American University. She later made history as the first openly transgender woman to intern at the White House during the Obama administration and as the first to speak at a major party convention at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Shared Commitment to Bipartisanship and Progress

Both Blunt Rochester and McBride are known for their pragmatic approach to politics and willingness to work across party lines.

Blunt Rochester’s legislative portfolio includes efforts to address gun violence, improve workforce development, and enhance health care affordability. Personal experiences, such as the sudden loss of her husband, Charles Rochester, to blood clots in 2014, have deeply influenced her advocacy for health-related legislation.

McBride, despite the intensified political climate surrounding transgender rights, has found common ground with colleagues across the aisle. Republican State Sen. Brian Pettyjohn remarked on her collaborative nature, noting, “She’s always one to come over, to make that effort to get outside that echo chamber.”

Looking Ahead

The swearing-in of Lisa Blunt Rochester and Sarah McBride signals a progressive shift not only for Delaware but for Congress as a whole. Their unique experiences and dedication to public service promise to bring fresh perspectives to Capitol Hill.

As Blunt Rochester takes her mentor Tom Carper’s seat in the Senate and McBride fills her predecessor’s role in the House, Delaware continues its legacy of pioneering leadership. The nation watches as these two women embark on their historic terms, poised to make lasting impacts on the legislative landscape.

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