List of transgender public officeholders in the United States

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This is a list of openly transgender, intersex, and nonbinary officeholders by office in the United States. The first transgender public officeholder in the United States was Joanne Marie Conte, elected to Arvada, Colorado's City Council in 1991.

As of January 2025, the highest-ranking public official is Sarah McBride, who represents Delaware's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. The highest ranking appointed official was Rachel Levine, who was an Assistant Secretary for Health from 2021 to 2024.

This list is arranged chronologically by politicians' first years in each office. Some officeholders listed were not elected while out as transgender, and either came out or were outed at a later date.

Background

As of 2021, 77 transgender, non-binary, intersex, and genderqueer officials served in public elected positions.[1] This represented a nearly fivefold increase from 2018, when only 16 openly transgender individuals had been elected to office in the United States.[2] On November 7, 2017, eight transgender individuals were elected to public office. This is the most transgender individuals elected to office in a single day.[3]

Federal offices

Executive

More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Party Entered

office

Left

office

Office(s) held[a] Tenure Notes
Dylan Orr December 7, 2009 June 12, 2015 Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary of Labor 2009–2015 Orr is the first openly transgender person to be appointed in a presidential administration.[4]
Amanda Simpson December 29, 2009 January 19, 2017 Senior Technical Advisor to the Bureau of Industry and Security, First Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy 2009–2017 Simpson is the first openly transgender woman to be appointed in a presidential administration.[5] She is also the first openly transgender person to lead a United States Department of Defense organization.
Rachel Levine March 26, 2021 January 20, 2025 Assistant Secretary for Health 2021–2025 Levine is the first openly transgender person to hold an office that requires Senate confirmation. She was the highest-ranking openly transgender official in the US and the first openly transgender four-star admiral.[6][7]
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Legislative

More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Party Chamber Representing state Office(s) held[a] Tenure Notes
Sarah McBride Democratic US House of Representatives Delaware US representative for Delaware's at-large congressional district 2025– McBride is the first openly transgender person to be elected to the United States Congress.[8][9]

Previously, McBride served in the Delaware State Senate; in 2020, she was the first transgender person elected to any state's upper house.[10]

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State offices

Executive

More information Image, Name (lifespan) ...
Image Name

(lifespan)

Party State Office held[a] Tenure Notes
Kim Coco Iwamoto Democratic Hawaii Hawai’i Board of Education 2006–2011 Iwamoto was the first transgender person elected to statewide office in Hawaii.[11]
Lauren Scott Republican Nevada Commissioner, Nevada Equal Rights Commission 2012–2016 Scott was also the first openly transgender person to win a Republican primary election for a state legislative office, running for the Nevada Assembly's 30th District in 2014.[12]
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Legislative

More information Image, Name (lifespan) ...
Image Name

(lifespan)

Party State Office held[a] Tenure Notes
Althea Garrison

Republican[b]

Massachusetts Massachusetts House of Representatives, 5th Suffolk district[c] 1993–1995 Garrison is the first transgender person to serve in a state legislature, but she was not openly transgender when first elected in 1992. She was later outed while in office.[13] Garrison later served in the Boston City Council by appointment to fill a vacancy in 2018.[14]
Stacie-Marie Laughton Democratic New Hampshire New Hampshire House of Representatives, Ward 4[d] 2012 (elected only, not served) Though Laughton was the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature in 2012, she was forced to resign prior to inauguration after past felonies became public.[15]
New Hampshire House of Representatives, District 31 2020–2022 She ran again and won in 2020,[16] and won her reelection in 2022, but she ultimately resigned in December 2022 after being arrested for stalking.[17] She has since been arrested again, this time for felony distribution of child sexual abuse images.[18]
Alisson Turcotte Democratic New Hampshire New Hampshire House of Representatives, 11th Merrimack district (formerly 22nd Merrimack)[c] 2012–2024 Came out as transgender after her 2022 re-election.[19][20]
Danica Roem, United States Danica Roem Democratic Virginia Virginia Senate, 30th district 2024–present First openly transgender person to be elected and served in a state legislature in 2017; first transgender state senator elected in the Southern United States in 2023; first openly transgender person to serve in both houses of a state legislature in 2024.[21][22]
Virginia House of Delegates, 13th district 2018–2024
Brianna Titone Democratic Colorado Colorado House of Representatives, 27th district 2019–present [23]
Gerri Cannon Democratic New Hampshire New Hampshire House of Representatives, Strafford 18th district (now 12th district) 2018–2024 [24][25][26]
Lisa Bunker Democratic New Hampshire New Hampshire House of Representatives, Rockingham 18th District 2018–2022 [24]
Sarah McBride Democratic Delaware Delaware Senate 2021–2025 First transgender member of a state Senate, elected in November 2020.[27][28]
Stephanie Byers Democratic Kansas Kansas House of Representatives, 86th district 2021–2023 The first openly trans woman of color[29] to serve in and to be elected to a state legislature and the first Native American trans person to hold elected office in the United States.[30][31]
Taylor Small Democratic, Progressive Vermont Vermont House of Representatives, Chittenden 6–7 district (now Chittenden-21) 2021–2025 [32]
Mo Turner Democratic Oklahoma Oklahoma State House of Representatives, district 88 2021–2025 The first non-binary state legislator. While in office, Turner was the only transgender state legislator of color.[33][34][35]
Zooey Zephyr Democratic Montana Montana House of Representatives, district 95 2023–present She is the first openly transgender elected official in the Montana Legislature.[36][37]
Leigh Finke Democratic (DFL) Minnesota Minnesota House of Representatives, District 66A 2023–present She is the first openly transgender elected official in the Minnesota Legislature.[38]
Liish Kozlowski Democratic (DFL) Minnesota Minnesota House of Representatives, District 8B 2023-present Kozlowski was the first openly nonbinary representative in the Minnesota Legislature, first elected in 2022.[39] As of 2026, they are the only two-spirit legislator in the U.S.[40]
James Roesener Democratic New Hampshire New Hampshire House of Representatives, 22nd Merrimack 2023–present He is the first transgender man elected to a state legislature.[41][42]
SJ Howell Democratic Montana Montana House of Representatives, District 100 2023–present Became the first nonbinary state legislator in Montana when they were elected.[43]
Brion Curran Democratic (DFL) Minnesota Minnesota House of Representatives, District 36B[c] 2023–present Curran came out as nonbinary between their 2022 and 2024 elections.[44]
Alice Wade Democratic New Hampshire New Hampshire House of Representatives, 15th Strafford 2024–present [45]
Aime Wichtendahl Democratic Iowa Iowa House of Representatives, District 80 2025–present The first transgender person to serve in the Iowa legislature.[46]
Kim Coco Iwamoto Democratic Hawaii Hawaii House of Representatives, District 25 2025–present The first transgender person elected to the Hawaii legislature. Previously the first transgender person elected to statewide office in Hawaii (Board of Education, 2006).[47]
Wick Thomas Democratic Missouri Missouri House of Representatives, District 19 2025–present The first out nonbinary person elected to state office in Missouri.[47]
Elle Abigail "Abi" Boatman Democratic Kansas Kansas House of Representatives, District 86 2026-present [48]
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Local offices

Executive

More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Party Locality Office(s) held Tenure Notes
Stu Rasmussen
(1948–2021)
Nonpartisan office Silverton, Oregon Mayor 2009–2015 First transgender mayor in the United States.[49] She had served as mayor of Silverton, Oregon in the 1990s, before coming out as transgender.[50] She was also three times a member of the city council.[51]
Jess Herbst Nonpartisan office New Hope, Texas Mayor[e] 2016–2018 Herbst became the first openly transgender mayor in Texas in 2016 when the then-mayor died days before the election, but still won. Herbst, who was Mayor pro-tem, was then appointed to the position. She came out as transgender after being appointed to the office.[52][53]
Betsy Driver Democratic Flemington, New Jersey Mayor 2019–2023 She is the first openly intersex person elected mayor in the United States.[54] Also was the first intersex person elected to any political office when elected to town council in 2017.[55]
Lisa Middleton Democratic Palm Springs, California Mayor 2021–2022 [56]
Raúl Ureña Nonpartisan office Calexico, California Mayor 2023–2024 Ureña was elected in 2020 to Calexico's City Council, whose members hold rotating terms as mayor. After she came out as transgender, critics launched a recall campaign against her, which succeeded in removing her from her seat.[57]
Erica Deuso Democratic Downingtown, Pennsylvania Mayor 2025–Present Deuso became Pennsylvania's first openly transgender mayor when she was elected in November 2025.[58]
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Legislative

More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Party, if known Locality Office(s) held[a] Tenure Notes
Joanne Marie Conte
(1933–2013)
None Arvada, Colorado City Council[c] 1991–1995 Conte is considered the first openly transgender person elected to public office in the United States.[59][60]
Michelle Bruce Riverdale, Georgia City Council[c] 2004–2008 Bruce was sued by her political opponents for fraud because she allegedly misled voters concerning her gender. The Georgia Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bruce.[61][62]
Claire Elizabeth Hall None Lincoln County, Oregon County Commissioner[c] 2004–2026 Hall transitioned in June 2018 during her fourth term as commissioner and was subsequently re-elected in 2020 and 2024.[63][64] She died in office on January 4, 2026.[65]
Jessica Orsini Centralia, Missouri Alderwoman 2006–2010 [66][67]
Vered Meltzer Appleton, Wisconsin City Council, District 2 2014–present [68][69]
Jennifer Williams Republican Trenton, New Jersey City Council 2022–present The first openly trans woman elected to a city council position in New Jersey.[70] Re-elected in 2024.
Aime Wichtendahl Democratic Hiawatha, Iowa City Council 2016–2025 The first openly trans woman elected to government in Iowa.[71] Re-elected in 2019.[72]
Betsy Driver Democratic Flemington, New Jersey Town Council 2017–2019 First intersex person elected to public office in the U.S. Also served as mayor of Flemington, 2019–2023.[73]
Phillipe Cunningham Democratic (DFL) Minneapolis, Minnesota City Council, Ward 4 2018–2022 First openly trans man of color to be elected to office.[74]
Andrea Jenkins Democratic (DFL) Minneapolis, Minnesota City Council, Ward 8 Council member (2018–2026)

Council President (2022–2024)

Became the first openly transgender black woman to be elected to office in 2017.[75]
Stephe Koontz Doraville, Georgia City Council, 3rd District 2018–present First openly transgender person elected in Georgia[f][76]
Lisa Middleton Palm Springs, California City Council (member at-large, 2017–2020;

5th district, 2020–2025)

2017–2025 Also served as mayor of Palm Springs in 2021.
Althea Garrison Independent Boston, Massachusetts Boston City Council, member at-large[e] 2019–2020 Appointed as the at-large representative when Ayanna Pressley was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. She had previously served in the Massachusetts House in the 1990s.
Kathryn Ottersten None[77] Fairbanks, Alaska City Council, Seat D 2019–2020 Ottersten was the first openly intersex person elected in Alaska.[78][79]
Rita Schenkelberg Bend, Oregon City Council 2020–2022 First out trans person of color to hold elected office in Oregon and first out nonbinary person to hold municipal office in Oregon.[80]
Liz Lyke Fairbanks North Star Borough Borough Assembly 2020–2024 [78]
Veronica Pejril Democratic Greencastle, Indiana Common Council 2020–2024 The first openly transgender elected official in Indiana.[81] Currently running for Indiana State Senate, District 24.[82]
Donna Price Democratic Albemarle County, Virginia Board of Supervisors, Scottsville Magisterial District Vice-chair, 2020–2023; Chair, 2023 The first transgender supervisor and second elected public official in the State. Elected November 2019.[83][84] Retired in late 2023.[85]
Rosemary Ketchum Democratic Wheeling, West Virginia City Council 2020–2024 The first out trans person to be elected to public office in West Virginia, elected in June 2020.[86]
Evelyn Rios Stafford Democratic Washington County, Arkansas Justice of the Peace 2021–present First trans woman elected in Arkansas and one of first elected Latina women in the state[87]
Christopher Kalcich Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania Borough Council 2021–present The first transgender elected official in Snyder County and Central Pennsylvania.[88][89]
Mary Nolan Portland, Oregon Metro Council, District 5 2021–present Nolan has come out as nonbinary after taking office.[90]
Ashley Shade Democratic North Adams, Massachusetts City Council, at-large 2022–2023 [91]
City Council Vice President 2024–2025
City Council President 2026–present
Thu Nguyen Worcester, Massachusetts City Council 2022-2026 First nonbinary elected official in Massachusetts.[92]
Clare Killman Carbondale, Illinois City Council 2023–present Killman is the first transgender city council member in Illinois.[93]
Olivia Hill Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee Metropolitan Council 2023–present Hill is the first transgender elected official in Tennessee.

[94]

V Fixmer-Oraiz Johnson County, Iowa Board of Supervisors 2023–present First transgender and nonbinary county official in Iowa.

[95]

Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford None Madison, Wisconsin Common Council 2023–present The first openly transgender woman elected in Wisconsin.[96][97]
Tyler Titus Democratic Erie, Pennsylvania City Council 2024–present [98]
Emma Curtis Democratic Lexington, Kentucky Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, 4th District 2025–present Believed to be the first openly transgender person elected to a city office in Kentucky.[99]
Arienne Childrey Democratic St. Marys, Ohio St. Marys City Council, 4th Ward 2025–present First out transgender person to serve on a city council in the state of Ohio[citation needed]
Rien Finch Democratic Waterville, Maine Waterville City Council, 6th Ward 2023-2025 [100]
Seven Siegel Gorham, Maine Town Council, At-Large 2022-present [101]
Alison Bowden Corvallis, Oregon City Council, Ward 6 2025-present [citation needed]
Ramona Thieme Brunswick, Maine Town Council, District 6 2026-present [102]
Camden Hargrove Menominee, Wisconsin Common Council, District 8 2026-present [103]
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Judicial

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Image Name Locality Office(s) held Tenure Notes
Phyllis Frye Houston, Texas Houston Municipal Court judge 2010–2023 The first openly transgender person appointed as a judge in the U.S.[104]
Victoria Kolakowski Alameda County, California Superior Court Judge 2011–present Considered the first transgender person elected as a judge.[105]
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Boards and commissions

More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Party, if known Locality Office(s) held[a] Tenure Notes
Amanda Simpson Tucson, Arizona Commissioner of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Commission 2001–c.2009 Later was elected or appointed to many different positions, including a precinct committee.[106][107]
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy[g] 2015–2017
Theresa Sparks San Francisco, California Chair of the LGBT Advisory Committee, San Francisco Human Rights Commission[g] 2001–2004 [108][109][110]
Commissioner, San Francisco Police Commission
President, 2007–2009
2004–2009
Jordan Willow Evans Republican Charlton, Massachusetts Board of Trustees of the Public Library 2016–2022 First openly trans Republican elected to office;[111][112] elected in two different states.[113][114]
Goffstown, New Hampshire Board of Trustees of the Goffstown Public Library
Vice Chair, 2025–present
2025–present
Jay Irwin Ralston, Nebraska School Board member 2016–2023 First openly trans man to be elected to office.[115][116]
Gerri Cannon Democratic Somersworth, New Hampshire School Board member 2017–2018 Currently serving in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[117][118]
Tyler Titus Erie, Pennsylvania School Board member 2017–2021 The first openly transgender person elected in Pennsylvania.[119] Currently serving on the Erie City Council.[98]
School Board President 2020–2021
Brandy Fortson Corvallis, Oregon Corvallis School District board member 2019–2022 First nonbinary person to hold office in Oregon.[120][121]
Monika Nemeth Washington, D.C. Commissioner, Advisory Neighborhood Commission, 3F06 2018–2023 First trans person to hold public office in Washington, D.C.[122]
Regina Roberts Republican Valley Center, California Board of Directors of the Parks and Recreation District
Chair, 2021 (dissolution)
2021 Second known trans Republican elected to office and first openly trans Republican elected in California;[123][124] elected to two simultaneous positions (the former office was dissolved into an advisory board, which she chaired);[125] resigned to move to New Mexico.[126]
Board of Directors of the Fire Protection District 2021–2024
Charlotte Clymer Washington, D.C. Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights 2022–present First transgender appointee confirmed by District Council.
Alleria Stanley Democratic Party (United States) Frederick County, Maryland Commissioner, Human Relations Commission 2025-present First transgender appointee confirmed by County Council.
Daniella Mendez Democratic Dover, New Jersey Board of Education member 2022–2025 First trans woman elected to a Board of Education in New Jersey.[127]
Board of Education President 2023–2025
Hayden Gise Washington, D.C. Commissioner, Advisory Neighborhood Commission, 3C01 2022–2025 Second trans person to hold elected office in Washington, D.C.[128]
Stephen Coleman Kenny Washington, D.C. Commissioner, Advisory Neighborhood Commission, 1A05 2022–2025 First nonbinary person to hold elected office in Washington, D.C.[128]
Rebecca Blankenship Berea, Kentucky School Board member 2023–2024 The first openly transgender elected official in Kentucky.[129]
Kina Chadwick Bend, Oregon Bend-La Pine School District board member 2022–present
Dion Manley Nonpartisan Franklin County, Ohio Gahanna-Jefferson School Board member 2022–present The first transgender elected official in Ohio.[130][131]
Precious Brady-Davis Cook County, Illinois Member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 2023–present Appointed in July 2023 then elected by special election in 2024.[132]
Rien Finch Democratic Waterville, Maine Secretary, Charter Commission 2019-2020 [133][134]
Julia Lester Oxford Hills School District, Maine School Board member 2022-2023 Removed by recall election over their support for a proposal which aimed to foster a safe learning environment for students of all gender and sexual identities.[135][136]
Judah Largent Corvallis School District, Oregon School Board member 2024-present
Amy Heutmaker Russell Township, Geauga County, Ohio Board of Trustees member 2025-present Second trans candidate in Ohio to win a local election[137]
Monroe Lace San Francisco, California Commissioner, Human Rights Commission 2025-present [138]
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Other elected positions

Neighborhood organizations

More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Party Locality Office(s) held Tenure Notes
Rachael Rose Luckey Los Angeles, California Board member of the Rampart Village Neighborhood Council 2017–present [139]
Maebe A. Girl Democratic Los Angeles, California Member of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council 2019–present Girl is the first drag queen elected to public office in the United States.[140] She is a three-time candidate for California's 30th congressional district and the first non-binary person to advance to a general election for a House seat.[141] Girl is non-binary and uses she/her and they/them pronouns.[142]
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Party offices

More information Image, Name ...
Image Name Party State Office(s) held Tenure Notes
Traci Baker Libertarian Oklahoma Secretary, Libertarian Party of Oklahoma 2018–present First transgender person elected in Oklahoma. First openly transgender person elected as a state-level executive for a recognized political party in the United States.[143]
Blaizen Bloom Green Virginia Press-secretary, Green Party of Virginia 2020–2021 Non-binary and gender fluid[144][145]
Non-Male Cochair, Green Party of Virginia 2021–present
Kristen Browde Democratic Florida Vice president, Florida Democratic Party LGBTQ+ Caucus 2023–present [146]
Laura Calvo Democratic Oregon Democratic National Committee member 2013 [147]
Émilia Decaudin Democratic New York Democratic District Leader, 37th State Assembly District 2020–present With Melissa Sklarz, first openly transgender district leaders in New York State. First transgender member of the New York State Democratic Committee.[148]
New York State Democratic Committee member 2018–2020
Honey Mahogany Democratic California 3rd Vice Chair, San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, 17th District 2020 First Black transgender person elected in California[149]
Rachel Nyx Libertarian California Vice Chair, Libertarian Party of California 2021–present First openly transgender person elected vice chair of a state party in California[150]
Michelle Risher Democratic Oregon Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO)'s Stonewall (LGBTQ+) Caucus 2017–2019 She is the first transgender person elected as a first, senior, or second vice-chair of a state or territorial Democratic party, and the first to be next in the line of succession to the party chair.[151]
Vice-chair, DPO 2019
Ashley Shade Libertarian Massachusetts Treasurer, Massachusetts Libertarian Party 2019–2020 First transgender person elected as treasurer of a Libertarian State Party. First elected transgender state party officer in Massachusetts. First transgender state party chair in Massachusetts.[152]
Chair, Massachusetts Libertarian Party 2021–2022
Barbra Casbar Siperstein
(1942–2019)
Democratic New Jersey Democratic National Committee member 2009–2017 [153][154]
Melissa Sklarz Democratic New York Democratic District Leader, 30th State Assembly District 2020–present With Émilia Decaudin, first openly transgender district leaders in New York State[148]
Boudicca Walsh Democratic Washington Chair, Thurston County Democrats 2017 [155]
Brianna Westbrook Democratic Arizona Vice-chair, Democratic Party of Arizona 2019–present She is the first transgender person elected a vice-chair of a state Democratic Party.[156]
Venn Sage Wylde Democratic Oregon Precinct Committee member, Multnomah County 2003 (overall committee membership)

2018 (as a "committeeperson")

They are nonbinary. Following their filing, the County Elections Director determined that the county would add a third column for "committeeperson" to the year's primary ballot, which previously only had space for "committeeman" and "committeewoman."[157][158]
Arienne Childrey Democratic Ohio Vice Chair - Ohio Democratic Party Pride Caucus 2025 - Present She is the first transgender person to hold a city council seat in the state of Ohio and was elected Vice Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party Pride Caucus in April of 2025.
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See also

Notes

  1. Former officeholders shown in grey, current officeholders shown in white
  2. Served this term under stated party affiliation, but has been a member of different parties over their career
  3. Not openly transgender when elected. Outed or came out at a later date.
  4. Elected but did not serve the term for which they were elected.
  5. Served in this traditionally-elected position by appointment, rather than election.
  6. Michelle Bruce was elected in 2004, but only outed after her election.
  7. Appointed position

References

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