Emily Randall, first LGBTQ+ Latina in Congress, wins reelection in Washington

Democratic Rep. Emily Randall, who made history in 2024 as the first openly LGBTQ+ Latina elected to Congress, has won reelection in Washington’s 6th Congressional District, securing a second term in the House of Representatives.

Randall defeated Republican Teresa Fox, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race at 11 p.m. Eastern time as polls closed, based on the projected vote.

The result extends a groundbreaking political career that has brought greater LGBTQ+ and Latina representation to Washington, D.C., while allowing Randall to continue advocating for healthcare access, reproductive rights, and economic opportunity.

Related: Emily Randall makes history as first LGBTQ+ Latina in Congress

Randall was previously elected to the Washington State Senate in 2018, where she went on to serve as Deputy Majority Leader, and first won election to the U.S. Congress in November 2024, succeeding retiring Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer.

Her election marked several milestones: She became the first openly LGBTQ+ Latina to serve in Congress, the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to represent Washington State in Congress, and the first woman and person of color to represent the state’s 6th District.

Before arriving in Washington, Randall built a legislative record focused on expanding access to health care and improving opportunities for working families.

During her tenure in the Washington State Senate, she helped advance legislation expanding financial aid for students, extending postpartum Medicaid coverage, and establishing Washington’s Universal Health Care Commission.

She also supported measures aimed at improving equity in medical education.

Randall’s path to Congress drew national attention during the 2024 election cycle, when LGBTQ+ political organizations identified her candidacy as an opportunity to break a longstanding barrier to representation.

As The Advocate reported during her first congressional campaign, Randall received support from Equality PAC, whose leaders emphasized the importance of electing LGBTQ+ candidates. Her victory that November came during an election that also sent Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, and Julie Johnson, the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to Congress from the South, to D.C.

Randall has been a defender of trans rights during her time in D.C. In January 2025, after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced new rules for the 119th Congress restricting restroom use by birth-assigned gender, Randall placed an all-gender restroom sign outside her office.

“When I heard about these restrictive bathroom rules, I knew we needed to do something to push back, even in a small way,” she told The Advocate during a tour of the space. “Our office is a place where everyone should feel safe and respected. That’s what this sign represents.”

Randall’s reelection preserves that historic representation as Congress continues to debate federal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.

It also follows a campaign against Fox, a Republican from Bremerton who finished second in Washington’s August primary. Randall received nearly 59 percent of the primary vote, while Fox received approximately 26 percent.

The district, which includes the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas and parts of Tacoma, has been represented by Democrats for decades.