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courtesy of ‘Sam Kimmel’
Dana Beyer was hoping to become the first transgender individual to be elected to a state legislature. Alas, it was not meant to be for the retired Maryland eye surgeon, who conceded the primary last night. Dr. Beyer was running for one of three delegate seats for District 18, a largely Democratic district which includes Chevy Chase, Kensington and Wheaton.
Beyer trailed behind incumbents Al Carr, Ana Sol Gutierrez and Jeff Waldstreicher, but did finish ahead of the race’s two other challengers, Vanessa Atterbeary and Michael Heney.
According to the Washington Blade, Beyer doesn’t think her transgender status was an issue in the election; she says not a single voter brought the matter up during her door-to-door campaign. Instead, she believes it was simply a matter of her base not getting out to the polls.
Maryland’s other LGBT candidates fared better. Seven openly gay and lesbian candidates won their primaries and will advance to the general election in November. Victors included incumbent delegates Heather Mizeur, Maggie McIntosh and Anne Kaiser, as well as incumbent state senator Rich Madaleno. First-time winners were Mary Washington, Luke Clippinger and Bonnie Cullison, all of whom were running for seats in Maryland’s House of Delegates.
Should Ms. Washington win in November, she would become the nation’s second openly lesbian African-American state legislator.
