The New Yorker, August 16, 2018, By Masha Gessen

"The Democrats of Vermont have chosen Christine Hallquist as their candidate for governor, marking the first time that a major party has nominated a transgender person for a governorship. ...

The emergence of trans politicians reflects the vastly increased visibility of trans people in America—and likely also the increased numbers of trans people, although this is much harder to calculate. It’s too soon to say what Hallquist’s primary victory and other trans electoral successes tell us about the current moment. But does the presence of trans people in politics change the political space itself? ...

Hallquist herself has repeatedly said, 'I just happen to be transgender." She has stressed that the voters of Vermont know her primarily as a climate-change activist who ran an electrical company in the state until resigning to enter politics earlier this year. The approach, and the story, reflect the sixty-two-year-old nominee’s background: before she came out as a woman, Hallquist lived as a fairly conventional, and conventionally successful, white man. Hallquist became the C.E.O. of the utility Vermont Electric Cooperative, and was married to a woman for more than thirty-five years, raising two daughters and a son with her; their son, Derek Hallquist, made a documentary about Hallquist that takes place during the time period when she came out. Released in 2016, the film, “Denial,” is a peculiarly intimate portrait, particularly of a person who has since become a politician. ..."

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/christine-hallquists-vermont-win-and-the-emergence-of-transgender-politicians