The Iowa House of Representatives will include a representative who identifies as transgender when it convenes early in 2025.
Democrat “Aime” Wichtendahl won Iowa House District 80 beat Republican John Thompson by a little more than 800 votes. Wichtendahl received 9,061 votes while Thompson recorded 8,239 votes.
Wichtendahl, who identifies as a woman and previously served on the Hiawatha City Council, has been an outspoken opponent of efforts in Iowa to strengthen parental rights in education and protect children from radical gender ideology.
Wichtendahl thanked Thompson for running a “clean campaign” and pledged to work with him on improving mental health and addressing the needs of veterans and first responders.
Wichtendahl also thanked his volunteers who he said “made history happen.”
“To everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, I know you are scared,” Wichtendahl said. “The results nationally and statewide are not what we hoped or and I know there are tough days ahead. But know that I love you and will fight for you. Stand with each other in this difficult time and don’t let despair break you down. Coming from someone who never believed I could escape the closet to becoming Iowa’s first trans legislator, I know that good things can and will happen.”
