Is Northern Virginia Ready To Walk Away From “Bigot Bob” Marshall And Elect A Transgender Woman?

We didn’t get too involved in this week’s Virginia primary races basically because the top race— for governor— pitted an establishment conservative Democrat against a fake progressive who I know personally to be unfit, in terms of character, for high office. Most of people I think of allies looked the other other way at Perriello’s weaknesses and backed him. I was more excited about the Lt. Governor’s race, where a geneuine progressive champion, Justin Fairfax ran— and prevailed— in a 3-way race. Justin beat Susan Platt and Gene Rossi, 49.1% to, respectively 39.2% and 11.7%. Big win. But there was another big win for progressives to be cheered about— the Democratic primary race to take on Republican House of Delegates homophobic extremist Bob Marshall in Northern Virginia. Marshall nearly lost the general election last time— 8,946 to 8,448— and he is viewed as vulnerable in November. The Democratic primary drew 4 candidates and the winner Tuesday was Danica Roem, a transexual woman journalist from Manassas who took 44.3% of the vote. Her closest opponent, Steven Jansen, took 29.8%.

The Washington Post hailed her historic win on Wednesday with an eye-popping headline: She is transgender. He proposed a ‘bathroom bill.’ They’re running against each other in Northern Virginia.

The irony of Democrat Danica Roem’s long-shot campaign to oust a veteran conservative from Virginia’s House of Delegates is unmistakable.

Roem, 32, is a transgender ex-journalist with a passion for public policy details that rivals that of Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), the scholarly conservative incumbent who has spent 25 years as a foil to the LGBT community.

Marshall, 73, sponsored Virginia’s constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage— which stood until the U.S. Supreme Court declared such prohibitions unconstitutional— and this year proposed a “bathroom bill” that would have kept transgender individuals from using public restrooms designated for the sex with which they identify.

In a year in which Virginia Democrats hope to use an anti-Trump wave to cut into the GOP’s overwhelming majority in the state legislature, political analysts say Roem could succeed against Marshall where many other Democrats have failed. A victory over the ­13-term incumbent would make her the first openly transgender elected official in Virginia, advocates say.

In a statement after Roem’s victory Tuesday, Marshall pointedly referred to his Democratic opponent as “he,” underscoring his skepticism— and that of other social conservatives— regarding people who identify as transgender.

Marshall has been whining that Roem’s supporters refer to him as “Bigot Bob” But he has described himself as the Virginia legislature’s “chief homophobe.”

“Danica Roem is a leader in a national movement of trans candidates who are determined to become a voice for their community in the halls of power,” said Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, President & CEO of Victory Fund. “This historic primary win sets up a general election battle where voters will choose between ‘Bigot Bob’ Marshall— the most anti-LGBTQ member of the Virginia state legislature— or Danica, a proud trans woman who is committed to representing all people in her district. I am confident voters will choose leadership over divisiveness and make Danica the first out trans candidate to win and serve in a state legislature.”