Politics
NEW: Pennsylvania Elects Its First Transgender Mayor
The city of Downingtown, Pennsylvania made “history” on Election Day by electing a man who dresses up and “identifies” as a woman, marking the first such occurrence in city and state history.
“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,” said Mayor-elect Erica Deuso, a Democrat. ABC 6 Philadelphia reported that all throughout the day Wednesday, the transgender mayor received calls from “all over the world” congratulating him on his historic win.
While he said he is honored to serve as the commonwealth’s first transgender mayor, he added that he does not believe his gender identity played a role in the election.
“I approach my life as being a good neighbor,” he said of his philosophy on connecting with Downingtown residents. “I want to be somebody who can be a role model as well. I may be the first, but I’m not going to be the last,” he added.
Deuso, a native of Vermont who has a background in business and science, has only run for office one other time. “It didn’t matter about my history or my identity. What matters is that I’m going to be that neighbor they can count on,” he said.
“I’ve gotten more questions about our good neighbor Christmas parade than I have about my gender identity.”
🚨Erica Deuso was elected as Downingtown, PA's first 'openly transgender' mayor with nearly 65% of the vote on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/hPNvW6qdL1
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 6, 2025
Deuso was one of more than 170 candidates nationwide who were endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and won their elections, ABC Philadelphia reported. “We’re seeing more people getting elected, not because they’re trans but because they’re the best people to serve in those offices,” said Daniel Hernandez, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund VP of Political Programming.
Hernandez framed Deuso’s win as a major victory given the rise of “anti-transgender rhetoric.”
“The year of attacks against the trans community and the LGBT community are backfiring,” he said.
Neighboring Delaware last year made the decision to elect the first transgender member of congress when Rep. Sarah McBride won his election. McBride has been credited with shaping former President Biden’s personal views and political evolution on transgender issues, as evidenced by his decision to write the foreword for McBride’s book in 2018.
