47ABC catches up with State Sen. Sarah McBride one week after swearing in
WILMINGTON, Del. – State Senator Sarah McBride is one of Delaware’s newest lawmakers – and she is already making history. But history books aside, the Senator is already focused on working with fellow lawmakers during these difficult times. “People recognize the scale of the challenges we face. Despite the hurdles of us being virtual, people are eager to communicate and go to meetings. They’re eager to meet safely and communicate safely,” said State Sen. McBride.
Tuesday, January 19th marked one week since State Sen. McBride took her historic oath of office. But the senator tells 47ABC that right now, that history is one of the last things on her mind. “I didn’t run to make history or headlines. I ran to make a difference in the state and in my community,” said State Sen. McBride.
Those headlines that the Senator is talking about have to do with the fact that she is the first State Senator in U.S. history who is transgender. Before State Sen. McBride took her seat in Delaware’s Senate chambers, she worked as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. That includes time spent working for the Human Rights Campaign and lobbying for legal protections and anti-hate crime legislation. “You’re representing a community and trying to listen to the community. You’re trying to take their hopes, their dreams, and their concerns with you in the work that you’re doing,” said State Sen. McBride.
That experience is something that the Senator says she will carry with her as she works with her constituents. “The work that I had done as an advocate reflected the work of a legislator working on behalf of the community. But, of course the difference now is that instead of sitting on one side of the table, I’m sitting on the other side of the table,” said State Sen. McBride.
State Sen. McBride says that starting her first term as a legislator amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging, yet rewarding. “I was eager and energized to get to work and to help our state face the COVID-19 crisis, to make sure they’re getting vaccines out as effectively and efficiently as possible,” said State Sen. McBride.
When it comes to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, State Sen. McBride says she thinks Delaware can set an example by continuing to follow a data and science-driven approach. She says that would set Delaware up for a strong recovery. “We should seize that responsibility to ensure that our recovery is a recovery that lifts all boats, lifts all families in the state, and that we reimagine our world not as it was, but as it should and it could be moving forward,” said State Sen. McBride.
The Senator says her top priorities aside from COVID-19 are making health care and education more equitable and accessible. State Senator McBride also says criminal justice reform is at the top her her list. “That means taking the time to sit down with groups, community members, and experts to hear from them and to be as best prepared as I can to meet the challenges as we go into session,” said State Sen. McBride.
State Sen. McBride says she plans to use her experience as a human rights activist to inform her leadership as she works to address these issues. “Diversity in government is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s the only way we have a government that’s truly of the people, by the people, and for the people,” said State Sen. McBride.
Plus, the Senator says that she hopes to set an example for young Delawareans who want to make a difference in their community. “For any young person who is struggling with their place in this world, my hope is that they know that they only complete limitation on their dreams is the capacity of their own imagination,” said State Sen. McBride.
