Elected Officials

Since at least the 1990s, openly trans people have sought, although rarely won, political office in the United States. In recent years, however, an increasing number of trans people have run for elected office and increasingly have been successful in doing so, both reflecting the growth in trans visibility and contributing to that growth. This entry focuses on trans elected officials and candidates for office in the United States and discusses the importance of political representation, different types of representation, notable firsts for U.S. trans candidates, and patterns in these elections thus far.