An incumbent Democratic lawmaker who opposed equal marriage has been defeated by a gay drag queen.
Earl Jaques Jr, who has sat in the Delaware House of Representatives since 2009, lost out to progressive challenger Eric Morrison – a popular local drag queen known who performs as Anita Mann.
Morrison claimed 61.13 per cent of the vote in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for house district 27, while, Jaques received just 38.87 per cent.
Drag queen wins in a landslide despite smears on campaign trail
During the campaign, Jaques had attempted to attack his opponent for performing in drag at a fundraiser.
Jaques had told local media: “That is so far off-base for our district, it’s unbelievable. You wonder what the point is. You can have fundraisers, I don’t care about that. But dressing in drag? Really?”
I live in Delaware. Eric Morrison is known locally as Anita Mann and she’s fabulous! pic.twitter.com/IxjiH7K3Up
— PoliticalJunky (@luntphotog) September 16, 2020
He had claimed: “I’m not sure he represents the people who attend those places of religion [in the area]. If he’s actually having a fundraiser in drag, I don’t think those churches would endorse that.”
Happily, it turns out that more than 60 per cent of Democratic voters have no issue with drag queens – but do take some issue with bigotry.
As Morrison’s campaign noted, the lawmaker “voted against same-sex marriage in 2013, and refused to vote yes or no on banning the barbaric practice of conversion therapy for Delaware’s LGBT minors in 2013.”
Morrison is believed to be the first out gay man to serve on Delaware’s General Assembly.
Eric Morrison thanks supporters after resounding primary win
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “This morning, I am overwhelmed with emotions—but most of all with gratitude. Thank you to our incredible core team members. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who knocked doors, made calls, stuffed envelopes, attended events, greeted voters at the polls, delivered yard signs and volunteer ‘goody bags,’ and many other important tasks.
“Thank you to our donors who believe that political candidates and elected officials can and should be funded by the people. Thank you to the nine people-focused activist organisations that endorsed us. Thank you to anyone who did anything to support our campaign in the biggest or smallest of ways.”
He added: “This isn’t over! Before we know it, the general election will be here on November 3, and we face two candidates—a Republican and a libertarian. But for today, we celebrate and we THANK YOU for your support. I look forward to taking every remaining step of this exciting journey with you.”
History was also made in Delaware on Tuesday with the victory of transgender rights hero Sarah McBride, known for her fearless work with Human Rights Campaign, in her campaign for the state senate.
McBride, who was the first trans person to speak at a major party convention in 2016 when she addressed the Democrat National Convention, claimed a stunning 91 per cent of the votes in the primary, paving the way for her anticipated victory in the heavily-Democratic district in November.