Trans and nonbinary candidate Tyler Titus makes history in Pennsylvania primary elections

According to The Advocate, the Democratic primary for county executive was won by out Trans, genderqueer and nonbinary candidate Tyler Titus. Titus is now on track to become the first out transgender person to hold such a position in the entire country. 

Of the four candidates in the Democratic field for Tuesday’s primary, Titus and Carl Anderson each held the lead the most times at various points during the vote counting process, according to the Erie Times-News. The paper announced that the same narrow lead that Titus entered the day with was intact until the final results were announced at around 4:00 p.m. that afternoon.

After the votes were announced, Titus spoke to the media and other voters and supporters outside the Erie County Courthouse, stating, “My name may have been on the ballot today, but this victory is ours. 

They continued: “This victory belongs to the working people of Erie County. This victory belongs to those who want new leadership, who believe in Erie’s future. Today, Erie County Democrats decided they wanted the kid from Titusville who grew up in poverty alongside 12 siblings to a logger and nurse, who knows what it’s like to struggle, knows what it’s like when systems fail but believes so deeply in what we can all be.”

Titus will face off with Republican primary winner Brenton Davis in November, while the incumbent county executive, Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper, will reportedly not be seeking reelection. 

The biggest priorities in Titus’ campaign include universal health care, economic equity, support for public education, and fighting racism in the criminal justice system. As stated on their website, “We need to reform [criminal justice] so that we don’t have a carceral system that tears apart families and disproportionately harms Black and indigenous communities.” 

In a press release, The LGBTQ Victory Fund’s President and CEO Annise Parker made a statement regarding Titus’ primary win. “Tyler’s primary victory amplifies the disconnect between voters who are embracing qualified trans leaders and the bigoted politicians who attack trans people for their own perceived political gain,” she said.  

“Tyler’s candidacy is a bright spot in an otherwise difficult year for trans people, and the general election is an important test of whether an out trans leader can win in one of the swingiest districts in America. While Tyler is poised to make history as the first out trans county executive in U.S. history, their vision and agenda for Erie County is focused not on history, but on improving the lives of people in the county.”

Titus, who is also a mental health counselor, has already made history as the first out trans person to be elected to the Erie School Board in 2017. Titus is not only one of only nine out nonbinary elected officials in the U.S., but currently serves as President of the Erie School Board.