Transgender woman, Somali-American win mid-term election primaries
WASHINGTON Ms Christine Hallquist won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the US state of Vermont on Tuesday, moving a step closer to becoming the nation's first transgender governor, US media projected.
In another ground-breaking political moment, Somali-American state legislator Ilhan Omar claimed victory in her primary in Minnesota, putting her on track to become one of the first female Muslim members of the US House of Representatives.
"History made! @christineforvt just became the first trans/non-binary gubernatorial candidate from a major political party in American history!" the Victory Fund, an organisation that supports LGBTQ candidates, tweeted about Ms Hallquist.
But she still faces an uphill battle in the general election, when she is projected to face Republican incumbent Phil Scott, who has been in office since 2016.
Ms Hallquist transitioned while heading the Vermont Electricity Coop, several years before launching her gubernatorial bid.
In 2015, "Christine made the decision, after years of holding it inside, to come out as her true self, a transgender woman, becoming the first business leader in the country to transition while in office," according to her campaign's website.
She beat Mr James Ehlers, a Navy veteran and environmentalist, and Ms Brenda Siegel, the executive director of a dance festival, to win the Democratic nomination.
In Minnesota, Ms Omar - who wears a headscarf - declared victory in her primary race, a result also reported by US media.
A statement on her website said: "Tonight we are celebrating because we engaged and empowered our community and we won.
"Together, each and every one of us are the inspiration we need to keep fighting for a democracy that gets us closer to the American promise of prosperity for all and the hope for a better tomorrow," she said. - AFP
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