Virginia on Track to Elect First Gay State Senator

Virginia delegate Adam Ebbin won his Democratic primary Tuesday and appears likely to become the first openly gay person elected to the state Senate.

The Sun Gazette reports on his victory in the competitive three-way primary for the 30th state Senate district in Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.

"It was in Arlington where Ebbin showed his strongest performance, garnering nearly 46 percent of the vote compared to 40 percent for Arlington School Board member Libby Garvey and an anemic 14 percent for Alexandria City Council member Rob Krupicka," according to the Sun Gazette.

The out lawmaker will face Republican Tim McGhee in the general election November 8. The district leans heavily Democratic, and Ebbin is expected to win the race to succeed the retiring senator, Patsy Ticer.

Ebbin became the first openly LGBT person elected to the Virginia state legislature in 2003. He would make history again if he wins the general election as anticipated.

"Given his heavily Democratic district, Adam Ebbin's primary victory all but assures that he will become the first out Virginia state senator," said Victory Fund president and CEO Chuck Wolfe in a statement. "This is an incredible milestone for the LGBT community and is further proof that voters today see LGBT people as just as committed to their communities as any other public servant."