Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, is making it clear that she refuses to be dragged into the Republican Party’s culture war tactics. Instead, she’s keeping her focus where it belongs: on the real issues affecting everyday Americans.
Despite relentless misgendering, blatant disrespect, and targeted political maneuvers to undermine her legitimacy, McBride has chosen to rise above the fray. “I appear to live rent-free in the minds of some of my Republican colleagues,” she quipped at the Democratic retreat in Leesburg, Virginia. But she quickly shifted to what truly matters—lowering costs for American families, strengthening government efficiency, and delivering results that impact people’s daily lives.
A Shameful Display on Capitol Hill
Tensions boiled over during a recent House subcommittee hearing when Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) deliberately misgendered McBride, referring to her as “Mr. McBride” and “the gentleman from Delaware.” The move sparked immediate backlash. Rep. Bill Keating (D-Mass.), visibly outraged, called the comments “out of order” and demanded a correction. Self, rather than acknowledging his inappropriate behavior, chose to adjourn the hearing entirely.
McBride, ever composed, responded with grace and dignity: “Thank you, Madam Chair.” She didn’t take the bait, didn’t retaliate in kind—she simply carried on, allowing Self’s actions to speak for themselves.
This incident is just one example of how Republicans continue to use McBride as a pawn in their broader culture war, attempting to score points with their base by attacking her very existence. But if they thought these tactics would shake her, they underestimated both her resilience and the support she commands among colleagues who respect her not just as a transgender woman, but as a dedicated public servant.
The GOP’s Fixation on Culture Wars
The Republican obsession with McBride’s gender identity is part of a larger strategy to stoke division while ignoring the real challenges facing American families. Rather than engaging in meaningful legislative work, GOP lawmakers have expended significant effort to pass discriminatory policies, including a transgender bathroom ban for the House—pushed by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.)—to prevent McBride from accessing facilities that align with her gender.
Meanwhile, President Trump has doubled down on his administration’s anti-trans agenda, signing an executive order that legally defines gender as strictly male or female, erasing recognition of transgender people at the federal level. The move follows previous attacks on trans rights, including banning transgender military service members and removing federal support for trans youth’s healthcare.
McBride, however, remains undeterred. She refuses to be a distraction from the pressing issues affecting Americans, reminding her colleagues: “I wish they would spend a fraction of the time that they spend thinking about me figuring out how to make government actually work better.”
Sarah McBride: A Freshman Focused on the Future
Rather than engaging in petty politics, McBride has wasted no time making an impact. She was the first freshman Democrat to introduce legislation this year—a bipartisan bill aimed at preventing scams in the credit repair industry. While some in Congress focus on culture war theatrics, McBride is working across party lines to protect consumers and ensure economic stability.
Her election wasn’t just historic for transgender representation—it was a testament to the values of Delaware voters, who chose her based on her ideas, not her identity. As McBride put it, “Delawareans reinforce that in our state of neighbors, we are fair-minded.”
Taking the High Road While the GOP Goes Low
The attacks against McBride are relentless, but so is her resolve. Instead of stooping to the level of Republican lawmakers fixated on scoring cheap political points, McBride continues to lead with dignity and purpose.
When asked about decorum on Capitol Hill, she didn’t mince words:
“We will not take a lecture on decorum from a party that incited an insurrection.”
While House Democrats work to protect her from becoming a constant target, they also recognize that they won’t stand idly by while one of their colleagues is attacked. McBride may not be interested in being the spokesperson for every trans person in America, but she refuses to be silenced.
The Bigger Picture
The Republican Party’s relentless focus on trans issues, at the expense of real governance, is becoming a pattern of distraction. Instead of addressing inflation, affordable healthcare, or economic security, the GOP has chosen to wage war on an individual who simply wants to serve her constituents.
But McBride remains steadfast:
“The American people deserve serious legislators—elected officials who are focused on bringing people together to deliver real results. Not to play games, and not to engage in schoolyard taunts.”
And that’s exactly what she’s doing.
The Bottom Line
McBride’s presence in Congress isn’t just a win for transgender representation—it’s a win for competence, compassion, and leadership in an era of chaos. She embodies what it means to rise above the pettiness, to focus on governance while others engage in theatrics.
The Republican Party may continue its obsession with attacking her identity, but if history has shown us anything, Sarah McBride isn’t backing down. She’s here to legislate, to fight for her constituents, and to prove that representation isn’t just about who you are—it’s about what you do.
While the GOP goes low, Sarah McBride will always go high—and that’s what true leadership looks like.
